Trouble sorting columns, searching for things + how do I reverse a column?

[OM2]

I've got 3 questions I'm hoping someone can help answer

1. I seem to have mixed experiences sorting columns
I want to sort a column alphabetically say
So, what I want is all rows to be sorted according to this column

What happens 10% of the time is that JUST the column gets sorted

What I do is highlight the entire column and choose to sort a-z
ALWAYS, I get an error popup saying do I want to expand selection
I always choose yes and I get OK results - but only 90% of the time

What am I doing wrong?

2. This one really confuses me: how do I search for something??
Sounds dumb!! Jus do a damn search!
Well, most of the time it works
But annoyingly, toooo many times I'll do a search and it won't come up with any results!
BUT: I know the damn search result is there!!
So, I'll do a search for something I can see in front of my eyes - but it JUST won't find it!!
(I make sure I search up as well as down - but still same problem)
What am I doing wrong???

3. I have a single column of values. Is there any quick way to reverse all of the data?
I.e. first is last and last is first etc?
Or do I have to resort to VBA to do this?

ANY replies to any of the above would be sooo much appreciated
Thanks


OM

[MarvinP]

Hi OM2,

It sounds like 10 percent of the time you have a blank column in your table. When Excel sorts it assumes you have your data packed in a table. That would be no blank columns or rows in the table. See:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010048546.aspx

In 2010 Excel on the Home Tab there is an Icon called Find and Select. If you'd update your profile we could tell what version you are using. You need to Find instead of search.

There are a lot of ways to reverse a column of data. If it is sorted then you could use the Z->A sort for example. You could do it using formulas or how about Copy and Paste using Transpose twice? We'd need an example to be more helpful on this one.

[OM2]

It sounds like 10 percent of the time you have a blank column in your table. When Excel sorts it assumes you have your data packed in a table. That would be no blank columns or rows in the table. See:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010048546.aspx

aaah yes. i think i have a blank column most of the time to be honest
how can i stop this from being a problem?
i looked at the link u gave and couldn't find anything relevant that helped answer my question?
(apologies in advance if the answer was in front of my eyes!)

In 2010 Excel on the Home Tab there is an Icon called Find and Select. If you'd update your profile we could tell what version you are using. You need to Find instead of search.

i've updated profile - i think
find? search? whats the difference?
i normally just hit ctrl + f - what does that bring up?

There are a lot of ways to reverse a column of data. If it is sorted then you could use the Z->A sort for example. You could do it using formulas or how about Copy and Paste using Transpose twice? We'd need an example to be more helpful on this one.

ok, i can sort a-z. but i needed also to sort by time. i couldn't figure out how to do this
copy + paste + transpose twice? u've lost me - how do i do this?

thank you for the help

[MarvinP]

The idea is that Excel works best when you have TABLES of data. A table is rows and columns of stuff with no completely blank row of column in it. This is why your sorts don't work well.

Excel 2010 has a great help system and the net is also a great resourse for finding answers. You need to go through the Tabs and Icons and figure out what is there. This will build your vocabulary and allow you to learn faster.

[OM2]

hmmm ok
so excel 2010 has helped functions that will accommodate blanks rows and columns?
i'll look this up
i basically have to do the same damn thing every day!
it's baffled me why some days it works and others it doesn't!

[MarvinP]

It is because your data has blank columns (or rows) some days and not others!

The help file is for all topics. There is no way around sorting if there are blank rows or columns in the data.

[OM2]

the data is from ebay sales
i have no control over it
it's JUST the way it is!
maybe i could write a bit of vba to get rid of blank columns
i'm not bothered about missing them

thanks for all the replies - i now know the cause of my 'gremlin' problem!