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I need help with sorting in Excel. I created a sheet where we have listed names in the first column and then info pertaining to them in the columns to the right of that. The names aren't on each row as we have to have blank lines below the name because the info to the right of the name is long. so when we go to sort from a to z so that the names will be in order alphabetically, the info to the right of the names doesn't follow. Thanks so much we are desperate over here.
Solved by E. C. in 36 mins
This is the chat thread from the real Excelchat help session. It contains no private user
information.
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:18
Hi
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:18
Welcome to got it Pro
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:18
Please tell me more about the requirements so that i can help better
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:19
Do you have a data that you can share for me to look at
User
06/09/2018 - 02:19
Hi there! That was quick, thank you so much!
User
06/09/2018 - 02:20
my main problem tonight is going to be that I could not bring the file from work because it contains confidential data. I can try to recreate it with info like "mickey mouse"
User
06/09/2018 - 02:21
If I can recreate the file but with other names, would that work
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:21
Yes please tell me a bit more about your requirement
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:21
yes
User
06/09/2018 - 02:21
ok, the columns that we had are "Name, Date of Birth, Sex, Other"
User
06/09/2018 - 02:22
just a sec
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:22
I wrote theat on spreadsheet on right
User
06/09/2018 - 02:23
oh gosh! ok, i love this! Thank you. Let me get you some more details so you can help with our problem
User
06/09/2018 - 02:24
oh my, i just noticed this is timed. Can we pay for extra time?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:24
may be you can extend the time
User
06/09/2018 - 02:24
how do i extend it?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:24
but lets try to finish up in this time
User
06/09/2018 - 02:24
it says i have 13 min
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:24
you will get an option when times says 3 min left
User
06/09/2018 - 02:25
ok
User
06/09/2018 - 02:25
so do you see how you have the letters under the name column directly below one another?
User
06/09/2018 - 02:25
we have blank lines in between the names because of all the info that we have to put in other
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:25
Yes
User
06/09/2018 - 02:26
I wish that i could type the info in there for you to see what i mean
User
06/09/2018 - 02:26
i am so sorry we are just no good at this but have to get it because boss wants it in excel
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:27
can you show me how it is exactly
User
06/09/2018 - 02:27
when we enter the names they are alphabetical, and we want to use the sort op
User
06/09/2018 - 02:27
ok, will it let me type in there?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:27
Something like this?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:27
B and E are not in names so they are in other?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:28
Do you see?
User
06/09/2018 - 02:28
i see but don't understand, will it let me type so you can see what we mean
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:28
Yes
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:28
Please go ahead and type on spreadsheet
User
06/09/2018 - 02:28
ok, can i start now
User
06/09/2018 - 02:28
ok
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:28
Sure
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:31
what exactly is required from this dataset?
User
06/09/2018 - 02:32
now we want to sort alpha name and when we do, the info in the "other " column doesn't follow the appropriate person
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:32
It will come like this
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:33
It is getting sorted
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:33
but the values in other column are not related to this
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:33
so they will be be shown like this
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:33
Do you get?
User
06/09/2018 - 02:34
ok, that is exactly what it does to us, but we want the information to follow the person
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:34
You can do one thing
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:35
See column for Name 2
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:35
i have added one more column
User
06/09/2018 - 02:36
i see that you added another column labeld name 2
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:36
You can paste the formulas and extend the formula down
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:36
then paste them as values and then sort the values
User
06/09/2018 - 02:37
i apologize, i do not understand
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:37
I added a column named Name2
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:37
where i have applied the formula
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:38
now you can apply them as values and then sort it
User
06/09/2018 - 02:38
ok, what is the formula? is it the name
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:38
by name 2
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:38
formula is in name 2 column
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:38
Double click on E2 and see the formula
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:38
=if(A2<>"",A2,E1)
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:39
Do you understand now?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:39
now you can paste it as values and then sort the column
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:39
all the values will come together now
User
06/09/2018 - 02:39
i am so sorry, i do not because i was trying to watch
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:40
i have created another column named name2
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:40
in that i have applied the formula
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:40
if value in cell A is not null then take that name else take name from one value above in column E
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:40
=if(A2<>"",A2,E1)
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:41
paste the same values on column H to L without formula
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:41
and have sorted it
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:41
see
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:41
Do you understand now?
User
06/09/2018 - 02:41
i am trying hard to understand it
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:42
Try to go through it and see
User
06/09/2018 - 02:42
so if i make another column to right and put the formula you did it will work?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:42
yes
User
06/09/2018 - 02:42
ok let me do that now
User
06/09/2018 - 02:42
you want me to look at it on this sheet
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:43
I am saying that i have provided the solution just try to see and understand it
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:43
have added a column to fill name names in blank cells using formula
User
06/09/2018 - 02:43
ok, i am looking now
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:44
and then sorted it so that blank name data gets sorted accurately
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:44
after making the column name2 sort on that column name2 only
User
06/09/2018 - 02:45
ok, so if we print out the sheet, is it going to print name 2 column?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:47
Your question was to sort the values
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:47
for printing you can print anything on excel
User
06/09/2018 - 02:47
ok, thank you so much
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:47
Once you sort it by name 2 then for you purpose you can only keep first 4 columns
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:47
Do you understand
User
06/09/2018 - 02:48
i think i do. we are starting to have to do more in Excel, do you all have an option to pay for help, this way in the future we can pay and use you all?
User
06/09/2018 - 02:49
we are going to try to take class but there are some things that they are needing right now
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:49
Yes
User
06/09/2018 - 02:49
our company would pay
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:49
I understand
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:49
You can use Got it Service
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:49
lot of good experts are there
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:49
For your current problem, the solution i have provided will work in your case as of now
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:50
I hope you will give good rating and reviews when you end the session
User
06/09/2018 - 02:50
ok, yes, will do and again, thank you
User
06/09/2018 - 02:50
where do i rate?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:51
When you press the end button on your screen
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:51
you will get an option to rate
User
06/09/2018 - 02:51
ok, do i do that right now?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:51
Hope to get good rating and reviews from you
User
06/09/2018 - 02:51
what is your name?
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:51
Yes if i have helped you you can end the session
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:51
we are not allowed to share our personal details
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:52
it is against policy
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:52
hope you understand
User
06/09/2018 - 02:52
oh, i am sorry, i was just going to mention in rating or didn't know if i had to have that info
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:52
No problem
User
06/09/2018 - 02:52
i am going to try and apply your training to our spreadsheet we have going
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:52
Sure
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:53
You can end the session to provide your reviews and ratings
User
06/09/2018 - 02:53
can i ask one more thing
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:53
your reviews also help a lot
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:53
We generally have a policy of one question per session, hope you understand
User
06/09/2018 - 02:54
if we have a spreadsheet saved on a flash drive and we are paying for assistance, can we get our file to you so that you can see it
User
06/09/2018 - 02:54
oh ok, sorry
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:54
Yes you an upload on spreadsheet
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:54
that is what i said at the beginning of our session
User
06/09/2018 - 02:54
i just see an attachment option and was wondering . i am so sorry
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:54
File can be attached in chat option also
User
06/09/2018 - 02:54
ok, i will end the session now. thanks again
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:54
Welcome
Excelchat Expert
06/09/2018 - 02:54
Take Care
User
06/09/2018 - 02:55
same to you, bye
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