sorting numbers

G

Guldo K

Hello everybody :)

I've been given an xl sheet with two main columns: the first contains
a number (integer), the second a text description.
As I try and sort according to the first column, I get:
1
10
11
2
20
....

as if it were set to text; unfortunately, it's not.
It's been set to standard, but I still get a text-like sorting.

Why?
Could you help me understand?

Thanks.
 
I

IC

Although they appear as numbers, they could be stored as text. Click on one
of the cells and have a look at the formula bar. If the number is preceded
by ' then it is stored as text.

If this is the case, you will need to remove ' from each cell.

Ian
 
A

Arvi Laanemets

Hi

They are text! Maybe you formatted them as general later, but this doesn't
convert them.

To convert them, you have to invoke edit mode (select cell and press F2) for
every cell, and re-enter the formula (simply press Enter).

When this is too time-consuming, then enter a number 0 into some free cell
(or find such cell where th NUMBER 1 is entered), copy it, select the range
with your would-be numbers, and select PasteSpecial.Multiply.


Arvi Laanemets
 
G

Gord Dibben

Guldo

Copy an empty cell formatted as General.

Select your "numbers" also formatted as General and Paste Special>Add>OK>Esc.

Try the sort now.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Hello everybody :)

I've been given an xl sheet with two main columns: the first contains
a number (integer), the second a text description.
As I try and sort according to the first column, I get:
1
10
11
2
20
...

as if it were set to text; unfortunately, it's not.
It's been set to standard, but I still get a text-like sorting.

Why?
Could you help me understand?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The numbers were entered as TEXT. Changing the Format (I don't see Standard as
a format on US based Excel, but perhaps you mean something else) will not
change that characteristic.

Depending on the version of Excel you may be able to tell the Sort wizard to
sort the information as if it were a number.

Or you can convert the data to numbers by the following:

Select a blank cell.
Edit/Copy
Select the column of numbers
Edit/Paste Special/ Operation: Add


--ron
 
A

Arvi Laanemets

Sorry!

'When this is too time-consuming, then enter a number 0 into some free cell'
has to be
'When this is too time-consuming, then enter a number 1 into some free cell'


Arvi Laanemets
 
L

Lady Layla

Actually it can read

'When this is too time-consuming, select a free cell'

There is no need to enter anything in the cell -- select an empty cell, copy,
select range, paste special, multiply




: Sorry!
:
: 'When this is too time-consuming, then enter a number 0 into some free cell'
: has to be
: 'When this is too time-consuming, then enter a number 1 into some free cell'
:
:
: Arvi Laanemets
:
:
:
 
G

Guldo K

Guldo K said:
I've been given an xl sheet with two main columns: the first contains
a number (integer), the second a text description.
As I try and sort according to the first column, I get:
1
10
11
2
20
...

as if it were set to text; unfortunately, it's not.
It's been set to standard, but I still get a text-like sorting.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot to all of you, guys!
Now it's fine :)
When I said 'standard' I meant 'general'; I have an italian version of
xl, so I had to guess the english word.

bye
 
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