Sorting column

[jWhitehouse]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Simple question: I'm trying to sort a column alphabetically. I have merged two columns, so there is a header (label) in row #1 for the merged columns, and then separate headers (labels) for the two separate columns in row #2.

When sorting, I am given the choice to NOT sort one row (row #1) but I cannot figure out how to keep the thing from sorting row #2, which gives the result of stuffing my labels in row #2 somewhere in the list, wherever they happen to fall alphabetically.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Simple question: I'm trying to sort a column alphabetically. I have merged
two columns, so there is a header (label) in row #1 for the merged columns,
and then separate headers (labels) for the two separate columns in row #2.

When sorting, I am given the choice to NOT sort one row (row #1) but I cannot
figure out how to keep the thing from sorting row #2, which gives the result
of stuffing my labels in row #2 somewhere in the list, wherever they happen
to fall alphabetically.

This is only one (of many) reasons that Merged Cells are the spawn of
Satan and should never be used - not even once. Friends don't let
friends merge cells. They're bad to the bone...

Most unenlightened users of merged cells use them to center a heading
over two or more subheadings. That's what "Center Across Selection" is
for. For instance:

- Enter a heading in (an unmerged) A1
- Select A1:B1 (or A1:C1, A11, to suit)
- Choose Format/Cells/Alignment and select

Center Across Selection

from the 'Horizontal' dropdown
- Click OK.

If you absolutely MUST compromise your worksheet by using merged cells,
then select only your data (e.g., the cells in column A below row 2