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Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

  1. #1
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    Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

    I have a workbook that uses Autofilter.
    Column A has data. Column B is hidden, has no data, and is empty.
    Colmn C has data, on through the rest of the sheet (to Column AB).

    Why column B has no data is unimportant for now. It, however, must maintain its existance and cannot be deleted.

    When I select the autofilter sort button on column A, it selects only that column, and not the rest of the sheet. Data is subsequently scrambled.

    When I unhide the empty column B and select the sort button on column B, it selects the entire sheet. Data remains intact.

    When I select the sort button on column C, it selects the rest of the sheet, but not column A (with data), or B (with no data). Data is subsequently scrambled.

    What is going on?

    Will I need to put some data (even an X) in the cells of column B so the autofilter will always select the entire sheet? Or can column B remain the way it is and there is some other fix I can use to get the autofilter to reliably select the entire sheet? If I have to put data in column B do I have to put data in all the cells, or will just a few suffice?

    To make matters more frustrating, I have another sheet in the workbook that also has a hidden column B, and this works just fine. However, there is data in most cells of that sheet's column B.

    Mogadeet
    Last edited by Mogadeet; 09-04-2009 at 12:23 PM.

  2. #2
    Forum Expert NBVC's Avatar
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    Re: Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

    Try selecting all the columns together to be included in the filtering and then apply the filter...
    Where there is a will there are many ways.

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  3. #3
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    Re: Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

    Just put something in the title of column B. Even if it just x.

    It doesn't need to be in each cell.

  4. #4
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    Re: Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

    Does column-B have a header? If not, give it one.
    Excel sees the empty column-B as the boundary of the current region when column-A is selected. Because there are no empty columns past "B", ti selects the entire current region defined by all cells that have data in them - until the next empty row/column.

    Giving column-B a header should help, but if not then enter zero or "x' or whatever into column-B, at least in the first and last cells.

  5. #5
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    Re: Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

    I put "Blank Column" as headers, and put an X in the first and last cells. Works perfectly now.

    Thank you everybody!!!

    Mogadeet

  6. #6
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    Re: Autofilter will not always select entire sheet

    Great.

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