Unable to sort in Excel because of merged cells

Bruce · 07-22-2005, 04:05 PM

I was given a large spreadsheet (737 rows and 45 columns) to clean up before
transferring into a database file. Certain cells text, others numbers,
emails, etc. and some are color coded to identify a specific distribution
process.

Whenever I try to sort the data, the following message shows up and it won't
allow me to sort. "The operation requires the merged cells to be identically
sized"

I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the merged cells, but
have failed. Is there some way to find merged cells with the sheet without
clicking on every cell individually? Is there some other way to accomplish
the task for sorting? Thank you.

Anne Troy · 07-22-2005, 04:05 PM

Certainly, Bruce. Select ALL the cells. You can use Ctrl+A or the gray
button/box that's to the left of the A column letter and about the 1 row
number. Then, Format-->Cells-->Alignment and untick Merged...

*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com

"Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was given a large spreadsheet (737 rows and 45 columns) to clean up
before
> transferring into a database file. Certain cells text, others numbers,
> emails, etc. and some are color coded to identify a specific distribution
> process.
>
> Whenever I try to sort the data, the following message shows up and it
won't
> allow me to sort. "The operation requires the merged cells to be
identically
> sized"
>
> I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the merged cells, but
> have failed. Is there some way to find merged cells with the sheet
without
> clicking on every cell individually? Is there some other way to
accomplish
> the task for sorting? Thank you.

FSt1 · 07-22-2005, 04:05 PM

hi,
personal opinion here. Merged cells is about the stupidest thing MS ever
introduced to excel. It DOES make the sheet look pretty but it screws up just
about everything else you may want to do. sort, copy/paste you name it.
macros hate merged cells.
best advice i can give it is not to use merged cell.
select all your data. go format>cells>allignment tab. uncheck merged cells.

regards

FSt1
"Bruce" wrote:

> I was given a large spreadsheet (737 rows and 45 columns) to clean up before
> transferring into a database file. Certain cells text, others numbers,
> emails, etc. and some are color coded to identify a specific distribution
> process.
>
> Whenever I try to sort the data, the following message shows up and it won't
> allow me to sort. "The operation requires the merged cells to be identically
> sized"
>
> I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the merged cells, but
> have failed. Is there some way to find merged cells with the sheet without
> clicking on every cell individually? Is there some other way to accomplish
> the task for sorting? Thank you.

Anne Troy · 07-22-2005, 05:05 PM

Indeed. More info here:
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/...soft_excel.htm
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com

"FSt1" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> hi,
> personal opinion here. Merged cells is about the stupidest thing MS ever
> introduced to excel. It DOES make the sheet look pretty but it screws up
just
> about everything else you may want to do. sort, copy/paste you name it.
> macros hate merged cells.
> best advice i can give it is not to use merged cell.
> select all your data. go format>cells>allignment tab. uncheck merged
cells.
>
> regards
>
> FSt1
> "Bruce" wrote:
>
> > I was given a large spreadsheet (737 rows and 45 columns) to clean up
before
> > transferring into a database file. Certain cells text, others numbers,
> > emails, etc. and some are color coded to identify a specific
distribution
> > process.
> >
> > Whenever I try to sort the data, the following message shows up and it
won't
> > allow me to sort. "The operation requires the merged cells to be
identically
> > sized"
> >
> > I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the merged cells,
but
> > have failed. Is there some way to find merged cells with the sheet
without
> > clicking on every cell individually? Is there some other way to
accomplish
> > the task for sorting? Thank you.

Bruce · 07-22-2005, 07:05 PM

Anne, I just wanted to say THANK YOU. The tip you gave me worked perfectly
and I was able to finish the clean-up and sorting of the spreadsheet.

Thanks for taking the time to help.

Bruce

"Anne Troy" wrote:

> Certainly, Bruce. Select ALL the cells. You can use Ctrl+A or the gray
> button/box that's to the left of the A column letter and about the 1 row
> number. Then, Format-->Cells-->Alignment and untick Merged...
>
> *******************
> ~Anne Troy
>
> www.OfficeArticles.com
>
>
> "Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I was given a large spreadsheet (737 rows and 45 columns) to clean up
> before
> > transferring into a database file. Certain cells text, others numbers,
> > emails, etc. and some are color coded to identify a specific distribution
> > process.
> >
> > Whenever I try to sort the data, the following message shows up and it
> won't
> > allow me to sort. "The operation requires the merged cells to be
> identically
> > sized"
> >
> > I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the merged cells, but
> > have failed. Is there some way to find merged cells with the sheet
> without
> > clicking on every cell individually? Is there some other way to
> accomplish
> > the task for sorting? Thank you.
>
>
>

Anne Troy · 07-22-2005, 08:05 PM

Too cool. Thanks a bunch for the feedback.

*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com

"Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anne, I just wanted to say THANK YOU. The tip you gave me worked
perfectly
> and I was able to finish the clean-up and sorting of the spreadsheet.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to help.
>
> Bruce
>
> "Anne Troy" wrote:
>
> > Certainly, Bruce. Select ALL the cells. You can use Ctrl+A or the gray
> > button/box that's to the left of the A column letter and about the 1 row
> > number. Then, Format-->Cells-->Alignment and untick Merged...
> >
> > *******************
> > ~Anne Troy
> >
> > www.OfficeArticles.com
> >
> >
> > "Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > I was given a large spreadsheet (737 rows and 45 columns) to clean up
> > before
> > > transferring into a database file. Certain cells text, others
numbers,
> > > emails, etc. and some are color coded to identify a specific
distribution
> > > process.
> > >
> > > Whenever I try to sort the data, the following message shows up and it
> > won't
> > > allow me to sort. "The operation requires the merged cells to be
> > identically
> > > sized"
> > >
> > > I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the merged cells,
but
> > > have failed. Is there some way to find merged cells with the sheet
> > without
> > > clicking on every cell individually? Is there some other way to
> > accomplish
> > > the task for sorting? Thank you.
> >
> >
> >

**iceybowie13** · 05-03-2016, 09:47 PM

I need a way to sort a spreadsheet in Excel 2010 and keep the title and column headings at the top of the page. Right now when I unmerge the cells, this information is mixing in with the data when I sort.

Thank you

**FDibbins** · 05-03-2016, 11:09 PM

iceybowie13 welcome to the forum

Unfortunately your post does not comply with Rule 2 of our Forum RULES. Do not post a question in the thread of another member -- start your own thread.

If you feel an existing thread is particularly relevant to your need, provide a link to the other thread in your new thread.

Old threads are often only monitored by the original participants. New threads not only open you up to all possible participants again, they typically get faster response, too.

(take a look at freezing the rows with the headings)