Sorting with Pictures

[bob12603]

Despite several hours of research I am unable to sort with pictures and have the pictures move with the rest of the row. I have a dirt simple spreadsheet, 3 rows, 2 columns. Column B contains pictures (.jpg files). Each has been marked "Move but don't size with cells". I've also tried "Move and size with cells." I sort on column 1 and the it's correctly sorted, but the pictures don't move with the rows.

One poster mentioned that he had checked "Cut, copy and sort objects with cells" in Tools > Options > Edit, but I am on 2007 and have been unable to map Tools > Options > Edit to the new menus.

Another poster, in another forum I think, mentioned that he had "anchor"ed his pictures to the row but I am not able to find "anchor" or anything which sounds similar.

This is really frustrating. If anyone can help I'd be most grateful.

Thanks, Bob

[Palmetto]

The easiest solution (I think) is to create a cell comment and format the comment fill color using the image if you have such a limited number of cells/pictures. It will display the comment/picture when hovering over the cell and it will always sort/move with the cell

How to add a picture to a cell comment:
1. Create the comment and delete the default text if desired.
2. With the comment display, right click the comment border
3. Choose Format Comment
4. Pick the Colors and Lines Tab
5. Click the Fill color drop down and choose Fill Effects
6. Click the Picture tab - should be self-explanatory from here.

[ChemistB]

I just tried this with Excel 2007 and WHEN both columns are selected, and you sort by column 1 (A), the pictures in B move along with them. Did you select both columns prior to sorting?

[bob12603]

Thank you Palmetto. That's a helpful suggestion. But of course it would mean that the user can't easily use the picture to locate the row he is interested in. On the other hand it would save me a column and the spreadsheet I am working on is already too wide.

Thanks again, Bob

The easiest solution (I think) is to create a cell comment and format the comment fill color using the image if you have such a limited number of cells/pictures. It will display the comment/picture when hovering over the cell and it will always sort/move with the cell

How to add a picture to a cell comment:
1. Create the comment and delete the default text if desired.
2. With the comment display, right click the comment border
3. Choose Format Comment
4. Pick the Colors and Lines Tab
5. Click the Fill color drop down and choose Fill Effects
6. Click the Picture tab - should be self-explanatory from here.

[bob12603]

Thanks Chemist. That sounds interesting, but when I select both columns and then try to do a sort, default or custom, I get a pop-up message saying "The command you chose cannot be performed with multiple selections. Select a single range and click the command again."

I am certainly not a sophisticated Excel user. Maybe I don't know how to select columns. I hover the mouse pointer over the top of the column until I get a bold-face down-arrow and then left click. To select both columns I hold down the CNTL key when I click to select the second column. The two columns get shaded, which I think means that they are selected. But they do not get surrounded by the flashing dotted line (which I think indicates some sort of selected status and which so often happens for no reason at all!).

BTW, in my earlier experiments when I would only select the one column I'd always get a popup saying "Microsoft Office Excel found data next to your selection. Since you have not selected this data, it will not be sorted." And then I'd select "Expand the selection." BUT NOW, when I am trying to reproduce my earlier experiments I am not getting that popup. If I Insert a Column B of data and then select only column A I do get the popup. Man, this is really an ornery product!

Thanks again for your assistance. Bob

I just tried this with Excel 2007 and WHEN both columns are selected, and you sort by column 1 (A), the pictures in B move along with them. Did you select both columns prior to sorting?

[ChemistB]

Don't hold the CNTRL key. Use the mouse and Starting in A1, hold down the left mouse button and drag until all of your data is selected. Then do the sorting. let us know if that works.

[bob12603]

Hi Chemist,

Thanks for hanging in there with me! When I do the select as you describe, I do not get the pop-up which I was getting yesterday, but the end result is the same, the pictures retain their physical positions rather than moving with the row.

BTW, there is so much activity here, how do you quickly find a thread you are interested in? I used advanced search, but I'd guess that there is an easier way.

Thanks, Bob