Sort by Last Name

[Mike]

Here is my problem. i am using Crystal Reports to extract data from our practice management system. they store the patient name as last name, first name, i.e. Doe, John F. I can use Crystal Reports to switch the order so it looks like John F. Doe. I then export this file to Excel so they can use the data for mailing letters and other fun stuff through out the year. They want to be able to sort by last name now that the data is in Excel but the name column is now John F. Doe so it will sort on the first name. I know this is a long shot but does anyone have a solution that might work
thanks for listening
Mike Da

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Why switch the order?

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

Here is my problem. i am using Crystal Reports to extract data from our

practice management system. they store the patient name as last name, first
name, i.e. Doe, John F. I can use Crystal Reports to switch the order so it
looks like John F. Doe. I then export this file to Excel so they can use
the data for mailing letters and other fun stuff through out the year. They
want to be able to sort by last name now that the data is in Excel but the
name column is now John F. Doe so it will sort on the first name. I know
this is a long shot but does anyone have a solution that might work?

 

[Bob Phillips]

Mike,

If you must have the name in John F Doe form at, you will need to create a
helper column and create a formula to put the surname in there, then sort on
that column. The problem is that names can be of the type John Doe, Mr John
Doe, John F. Doe, John van Doe, John Doe Jr. etc.

Here's a link to a thread that will provide a set of options. The best (IMO)
is Harlan's RegExp version, but you might just find that to be too much
work

http://www.google.com/groups?threadm=4a0901c2bb1b$0a81e030$8ef82ecf@TK2MSFTNGXA04


--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

Here is my problem. i am using Crystal Reports to extract data from our

practice management system. they store the patient name as last name, first
name, i.e. Doe, John F. I can use Crystal Reports to switch the order so it
looks like John F. Doe. I then export this file to Excel so they can use
the data for mailing letters and other fun stuff through out the year. They
want to be able to sort by last name now that the data is in Excel but the
name column is now John F. Doe so it will sort on the first name. I know
this is a long shot but does anyone have a solution that might work?

 

[Mike]

for the letters and labels, they want the name to appear as John F. Doe but they want to be able to sort by last name.

 

[Mike]

Bob,
Thanks for the link. This might just work.
Mike