Can't get Excel to sort a table by postcode THEN date correctly

Hi. I am working on a VERY simple spreadsheet at work (think is Excel 2007 but am not at work at the moment to double check) where I need to sort the data by UK postcode (first part only, ie GU34) THEN by date (oldest to newest). When I attempt to do this, it seems to sort the postcode part OK, but then cannot sort the dates correctly! The cells with dates are formatted at "dates" but I keep ending up with older dates occuring after newer dates. Surely sorting data in this way is not beyond the capabilities of Excel?!

Any help appreciated!

Hi

Many thanks for your reply, but it hasn't worked!!

I followed your instructions but the data still won't sort correctly. When I go BACK to data tab / text to column, click next twice the column data format has revered to "General"!!!

More help much appreciated!!

Hi

I have attached a sample of the spreadsheet but have only left in relevant data. I am trying to achieve a list which is sorted primarily by UK postcode (first part as shown), then by application date. i.e. all those with a KT21 postcode then sorted by date, followed by those applications with a KT22 postcode, also sorted by date.

As you can see from sheet 1 there are some KT21 entries, which are not sorted in date order (i.e. lines 40-45)

Hope thats enough info.

Thanks

Thank you so much!!!