Custom Sorting

[tenglish01]

So here's my question -- hopefully someone can help me:

I have merged cells A1:A5 through D1:D5 (so its a 4x5 block at the top of my spreadsheet as a key). Starting at the 6th row I have the labels for my columns. I need to sort the data underneath the 6th row, but Excel tells me there is a formating issue. I do NOT want to sort rows 1-6; I only want to sort the data underneath it and leave the top legend as it is.

Can I tell Excel where to start sorting? Or is the default to ALWAYS sort at row 1?

Thanks!

[Pete_UK]

Just select the data from A6 across and down, and then click on the Data | Sort icon.

Hope this helps.

Pete

[Richard Buttrey]

Hi,

If the cursor is active anywhere in your data (assuming it's a contiguous set of rows/columns) and you simply click the Data Sort menu item then Excel will automatically select everything that's contiguous with your data and that will include A1:D5.

You need to select A6:whatever before clicking the Data Sort icon.

Just a word of caution. Many of us dislike merging cells for all sorts of reasons which we needn't rehearse at the moment. Suffice to say that they just cause too much trouble with all sorts of functionality and when coding macros. Unless there's a real necessity don't do it. If you are wanting to center a value across a row then rather than merge the cells then select the cells and use the simple 'Center across selection' FORMAT.