sorting question

Looks like my post from early didn't post correctly, so I'll try again.

I have a spreadsheet that has 25 rows with 33 columns of data in each row. I want to be able to sort the rows by using data in 5 columns (not just 3 that the sort drop down box offers). Any ideas on how I can do this?

Try:

If you're sorting five columns A,B,C,D,E

sort the last three first, C,D,E and then sort A,B.

HTH

"LewR" wrote:

>
> Looks like my post from early didn't post correctly, so I'll try again.
>
> I have a spreadsheet that has 25 rows with 33 columns of data in each
> row. I want to be able to sort the rows by using data in 5 columns
> (not just 3 that the sort drop down box offers). Any ideas on how I
> can do this?
>
>
> --
> LewR
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> LewR's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32420
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=538189
>
>

If all your data is numeric, you could use a helper column in which you
create a formula based on the items to be sorted i.e.
=A1*100000+B1*10000+C1*1000+D1*100+E1 then sort on that column
(adjust the multipliers to work with your data)


"LewR" wrote:

>
> Looks like my post from early didn't post correctly, so I'll try again.
>
> I have a spreadsheet that has 25 rows with 33 columns of data in each
> row. I want to be able to sort the rows by using data in 5 columns
> (not just 3 that the sort drop down box offers). Any ideas on how I
> can do this?
>
>
> --
> LewR
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> LewR's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32420
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=538189
>
>

Thanks to all. Since some of the data to be sorted in alpha-numeric the sorting twice is the way I have to go.