Linked Cells Corrupted by Data Sorting

I have a main sheet that keeps track of total task. I have secondary sheets that are linked to the main sheet with linked cells. These secondary sheets contain the same rows of data only they are separated by individual project titles.

When I do a data sort on the main sheet by task due dates, the linked cells in the secondary "project" sheets do not keep linked to the cells irregardless if I have the cells linked explicitly (total_task_list!$a$1) or implicitly (total_task_list!a1).

Any ideas on what is causing this and how to over come it so that the linked cells track what they are linked to even when the original cell is moved by cut and paste?

Thanks

I overcame this problem by reversing the order and using individual the project tasks sheets to feed into the overall task sheet.

I would still like to understand why excel does not always follow keeping explicit cells linked during a sort.

Thanks