Sorting data within a cell

L

lydiaevans7

Hi all, is there any way to sort (re-order) data within a cell?
Example: Is there a way to put numbers into order within a cell that
have been entered out of order? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
 
B

Bob Greenblatt

Hi all, is there any way to sort (re-order) data within a cell?
Example: Is there a way to put numbers into order within a cell that
have been entered out of order? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Click to expand...


Pardon me, but why would you enter several numbers within the same cell?
That¹s what cells are for, so each can contain a value and be referenced by
other cells.
 
L

lydiaevans7

Pardon me, but why would you enter several numbers within the same cell?
That¹s what cells are for, so each can contain a value and be referenced by
other cells.
Click to expand...

My coworker is working on a project and has entered sets of numbers
into the same cells, so rather than having to re-do it all, I let him
know I would try to find a solution using Excel. Excel has saved the
day many a time for me so I was hoping to return the favor.
 
B

Bob Greenblatt

My coworker is working on a project and has entered sets of numbers
into the same cells, so rather than having to re-do it all, I let him
know I would try to find a solution using Excel. Excel has saved the
day many a time for me so I was hoping to return the favor.
Click to expand...

Ok, but as far as I know there is no way to do this. Excel see¹s a cell¹s
value as a discrete entity. So, several numbers in a cell are really just a
text string, not numbers. You could try to replace the line ending with a
tab, then use text to columns to separate the values, sort them and then re
concatenate them into a cell. I can¹t think of any other way, and it¹s going
to be tedious. You are probably better off redesigning the worksheet, to
keep the data in separate cells so you can resort it or plot it.
 
L

lydiaevans7

Ok, but as far as I know there is no way to do this. Excel see¹s a cell¹s
value as a discrete entity. So, several numbers in a cell are really justa
text string, not numbers. You could try to replace the line ending with a
tab, then use text to columns to separate the values, sort them and then re
concatenate them into a cell. I can¹t think of any other way, and it¹s going
to be tedious. You are probably better off redesigning the worksheet, to
keep the data in separate cells so you can resort it or plot it.
Click to expand...

Thanks! We'll try each of these methods and see if we can find a way
to help him out. I appreciate the tips.
 
C

Carl Witthoft

Thanks very much, we're going to try this!
Click to expand...

why not just export the nasty cells to a text file, then re-import into
Excel and tell the Wizard to use <space> as a delimiter?
 
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