Sorting table cells problem

[David]

I'm using Word 2000.
I have a table with 3 columns.
I need to keep this table sorted by column 1, this I did
initially via 'Table--Sort'.

However, I needed to split the cells in the third column
to add multiple rows in column 3 per single row in columns
1 and 2.

Now I'd like to be able to sort these sub-rows in column 3.
However, when I highlight the cells and choose 'Table--
Sort' I get a message 'Cannot sort a table containing
merged cells'. I'd also like to be able to re-sort the
entire table by column 1 (retaining the order of sub-rows
in column 3), however, when I try that I get the same
message.
It seems that splitting the cells in column 3 is
preventing any further sorting. Is there any way around
this?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Instead of splitting the rows in column 3, would it work to just have
multiple paragraphs in a single cell? You can actually sort the contents of
the cell provided you add one extra paragraph mark (so that there is no text
in the paragraph that ends in the end-of-cell marker). You can then select
all the paragraphs but the last and sort by paragraphs, after which you can
delete the extra paragraph mark if desired.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
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