Excel "remembering" sort criteria

[CalcTeacher]

Sometimes when I do a sort in Excel 2003 (say by column AC with no header
row) and then return to that sheet at a later date, Excel shows those
criteria as a default selection for a sort. However, other times, with other
sheets it always defaults back to Column A with a header row.

How can I get Excel to always "remeber" the las sort criteria I used on a
particular sheet?

 

[KC hotmail com>]

I believe it will remember if you always select the same total range. But if
the next time you come in you wind up selecting an extra column or not all
the columns you did the first time around, then it can't "remember" the sort
for that range because you've technically specified a new range.

The way I always ensure it remembers is by naming my sort range to something
like "EntireList"...then I know I am always selecting the same range and,
consequently, it always remembers my sort criteria for that range.

 

[CalcTeacher]

Thanks. That certainly does seem to explain the apparent anomaly.

The application is a grading spreadsheet and each time I add in a new column
of test scores, I sort based on descending order of semester grade. So, I'm
either going to have to write a macro to sort based on the last active column
or keep the semester grade in the same column and have sufficient hidden
columns for future tests.

 

[KC hotmail com>]

If you're using Excel 2003, then the List feature (Ctrl+L) allows you to add
rows/columns and have them part of the original list. Simply name the list
and when you add a row/column adjacent to the right or bottom, it naturally
becomes part of the list (it even shows you it's become part of it by showing
you a nice blue border around your list).