Thread: Sorting data that is split with merged cells

Hi all,

My first post here and to warn I am a relative newbie at Excel (compared to most of the users on the site).

I need help sorting columns that have multiple rows in them. The reason for this is to keep the columns within one page for printing. For example:

Column one has three rows of info : Name, number & email address
Column two - five have one row of info, but merged over three cells to keep same size as the three rows needed for column one
Column six & seven also have three cells merged (downwards / rows)

Now when I try to sort (using the Filter button) by column, it says "This operation requires the merged cells to be identically sized"

If I unmerge Column One, Six & Seven, then when I filter it won't include the info needed.

Is there a way I can merge a cell to "bluff" Excel into thinking it is merged, yet keeping the three cells seperate?

Or is there any other suggestions you can think of?

Thank you in advance and please let me know if there is any other info required (in case I haven't made sense above)

Avoid merged cells, have you tried resizing columns?

Your description is perhaps to short to illustrate what you are trying to do.

You would do best to post a sample workbook.

It should clearly illustrate your problem and not contain any sensitive data.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Marcol

Avoid merged cells, have you tried resizing columns?

Your description is perhaps to short to illustrate what you are trying to do.

You would do best to post a sample workbook.

It should clearly illustrate your problem and not contain any sensitive data.

Cheers

Good suggestion... here is an example of how the worksheet looks. If I increase the amoutn of columns, then I go into two or more pages and if I print with "shrink to fir page" it looks too small to read comfortably.

As you see I have numerous columns I would need to sort by... any help?

I can't see an earth shattering solution to this,

However you can format groups of cells, say white and remove internal borders to visually simulate merged cells, about the same amount of work then just copy paste the table as required.
Seems to work with the auto-filter, but not much good if you want all the customers details.You could could try custom filter but this is limited to two conditions.


Sorry not much help.