Sorting numbers as Text

[David M.]

I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists of digits
or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fields.
When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort digits as
numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I always
select that and it works fine
My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over and over
and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone - I know
what I am doing' ?

Thanks for any help.

[Sheila D]

I've never seen the message you refer to - what version of Excel is this?
Sheila

"David M." wrote:

> I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists of digits
> or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fields.
> When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort digits as
> numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I always
> select that and it works fine
> My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over and over
> and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone - I know
> what I am doing' ?
>
> Thanks for any help.

[SteveW]

Not just me then

Steve


On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:00:02 +0100, Sheila D =

<[email protected]> wrote:

> I've never seen the message you refer to - what version of Excel is th=
is?
> Sheila
>
> "David M." wrote:
>
>> I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists o=
f =

>> digits
>> or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fiel=
ds.
>> When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort =

>> digits as
>> numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I =
=

>> always
>> select that and it works fine
>> My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over an=
d =

>> over
>> and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone =
- =

>> I know
>> what I am doing' ?
>>
>> Thanks for any help.

[gls858]

Sheila D wrote:
> I've never seen the message you refer to - what version of Excel is this?
> Sheila
>
> "David M." wrote:
>
>> I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists of digits
>> or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fields.
>> When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort digits as
>> numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I always
>> select that and it works fine
>> My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over and over
>> and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone - I know
>> what I am doing' ?
>>
>> Thanks for any help.

Excel 2003 does this. I run into this when I have product numbers that have
a leading zero. To keep the leading zero the cells must be formatted as
text and the prompt comes up whenever you try to sort the column.

gls858

[Sheila D]

I'm using 2003 and I can't get this message even with leading 0's as you
describe - not aware of any options I've changed either.............

"gls858" wrote:

> Sheila D wrote:
> > I've never seen the message you refer to - what version of Excel is this?
> > Sheila
> >
> > "David M." wrote:
> >
> >> I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists of digits
> >> or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fields.
> >> When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort digits as
> >> numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I always
> >> select that and it works fine
> >> My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over and over
> >> and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone - I know
> >> what I am doing' ?
> >>
> >> Thanks for any help.
>
> Excel 2003 does this. I run into this when I have product numbers that have
> a leading zero. To keep the leading zero the cells must be formatted as
> text and the prompt comes up whenever you try to sort the column.
>
> gls858
>

[Dave Peterson]

Not via the user interface.

But you could record a macro that sorts the data the way you want. And never be
bother again....

David M. wrote:
>
> I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists of digits
> or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fields.
> When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort digits as
> numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I always
> select that and it works fine
> My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over and over
> and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone - I know
> what I am doing' ?
>
> Thanks for any help.

--

Dave Peterson

[gls858]

Sheila D wrote:
> I'm using 2003 and I can't get this message even with leading 0's as you
> describe - not aware of any options I've changed either.............
>
> "gls858" wrote:
>
>> Sheila D wrote:
>>> I've never seen the message you refer to - what version of Excel is this?
>>> Sheila
>>>
>>> "David M." wrote:
>>>
>>>> I frequently work with a lists of text data, some of which consists of digits
>>>> or digits + alpha characters. These are always formatted as tect fields.
>>>> When I sort them i get a dialog box asking if I would rather sort digits as
>>>> numbers or as text. Sorting as text provides the result I need, so I always
>>>> select that and it works fine
>>>> My question is, how can I skip having to answer this question over and over
>>>> and over? Is there a configuration option thats says 'leave me alone - I know
>>>> what I am doing' ?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any help.
>> Excel 2003 does this. I run into this when I have product numbers that have
>> a leading zero. To keep the leading zero the cells must be formatted as
>> text and the prompt comes up whenever you try to sort the column.
>>
>> gls858
>>
Here's what I did. I formated cells in the column as text. Entered several
numbers then selected the column went to Data > Sort and a window pops up
that says:
The following sort key may not sort as expected because it contains some
numbers formatted as text. What would you like to do?

Sort anything that looks like number as a number
Sort number and numbers stored as text separately

Happens every time for me.

gls858