Alphabetising columns - sort function

**Cazbiz** · 10-16-2011, 01:13 PM

Hi all,

I am new to the forum. I have created an excel spreadsheet which contains a list of contacts for a music charity. Column A is the contacts name but sometimes also contains other information, after the name. If I right click in col A and try to sort the names alphabetically I get a message about selecting a cell or something to that effect. Excel
Doesn't want to know. I have tried formatting the cells as text. I don't understand about checking for spaces - what does that mean ?
The other columns have quite a bit of info in. I have kept the original grid lines but not all are highlighted. I am wondering whether I need to merge cells or create larger rows for each contact entry ?
Any ideas ?
Thx

**shg** · 10-16-2011, 01:32 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Merging cells is never the solution -- it inevitably causes more problems than it cures.

Post a workbook (the forum rules explain how), and explain in context.

**Cazbiz** · 10-17-2011, 05:06 AM

Many thanks. That advice is very helpful.

The info in my spreadsheet is sensitive so I will try to send a typical but unspecific layout to explain my problem ASAP.

**Cazbiz** · 10-17-2011, 07:08 AM

I hope I have attached a sample (abbreviated) version of my data base. I would like to alphabetise column A, (Group or individual) based upon the first letter of the first name in the row.I have tried the sort button but no joy. I would like all the other information in the row to be rearranged so that all the row info remains associated with column A, even when column A changes position.

This is a working data base & I would like to be able to add contacts at the bottom and then sort so that they automaticvally come in the correct alphabetical location in column A. Otherwise I am reduced to inserting contacts manually & this takes hours - plus creates a problem of the header rows moving down & needing re-pasting.

I would appreciate any help with this.

**shg** · 10-17-2011, 06:34 PM

That's not how a database in Excel is organized.

It should have one column per field (Group, Adrs1, Adrs2, Adrs3, Phone, URL, Arranger, ...) and one record per row.

**Cazbiz** · 10-24-2011, 06:51 PM

I am tryIng to understand your reply.

**shg** · 10-24-2011, 07:33 PM

See, for example, http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/dat...database_4.htm

**Cazbiz** · 10-25-2011, 06:14 AM

Thank you. I am now wondering whether what I want is achievable using Excel. I would like to be able to alphabetise group names (example Flute Quartet) and retain an association with individual members, arrangers etc. I can't see how to do this in Excel. Do you agree that it may not be the best program for my data base or can you suggest how Iight modify my table to achieve this ?

Thank you for your help. As you may have discerned I am self taught !!