[kcmac]

I don't use Excel much so pardon my ignorance.

When you set up a spreadsheet with columns and rows why can't you sort by row like you can in something like mail.app?

In mail, if I want to sort by date, I click on the header in the column and everything is resorted around this header. Rows and columns all readjust to that sort.

In Excel, if you highlight a column and have it sorted in ascending or descending order, only the info in that column changes. Now the information in the spreadsheet is garbled/does not correspond to the info on the row.

If this can be done tell me how. If not, why shouldn't it? Seems to me if it could, this would make a better database app. It's very easy to set up columns and rows. Filemaker and Access, not so easy.

[philm]

You need to select all the colums which you want to be included in the sort. For example, if you have a list of first names in column A and associated surnames in column B, and you want to put the names in alphabetical order by surname, do the following:

Highlight/select both columns A and B (alternatively, you could just select all the cells with names in within these first two columns).

Go into Data...Sort...

Indicate that you wish to sort by column B (the surname column). If you have column headers in row 1 (i.e. 'First name' in A1 and 'Surname' in B1), you can select by the header name.

Indicate that you want the sort to be in ascending order and click OK.

Alternatively, you can highlight the cells you are interested in and go Inset.... List.... This list manager function provides a more automated approach to sorting and filtering.

[kcmac]

Thanks.

It would be more cool however if it worked by just clicking on the header of the row you wanted to sort.

[philm]

Hmmm, not really. There are occasions in spreadsheeting when you do not wish this behaviour. I see your point, but it is a spreadsheet app after all.

[kcmac]

Told ya I don't use it much. Much thanks for the help. Sorting is a good thing.

Happy New Year.