Sorting based on multiple criteria - "finalize" - how ?

Hi,

How can I "finalize" a sheet sorted by multiple criteria, so that I get a file where rows are physically ordered (as Excel 2003 would do it) ?

Excel 2010 seems to be able to unsort, and is not able to export the worksheet in 2003 format, with the rows sorted in the new order.

Thanks,
Mike

HI, and thank you (for welcome & answer)

Your idea is good; I also think I can improve a little:

For Excel 2003, I can add a column with a current number (= index key), which will memorize the new order generated in Excel 2010.
This will result in a smaller file than the concatenated strings.

But I also meant Excel 2010: I would like to "commit" the sorting, and make Excel forget it, so that it can't be undone.
How ?

At the moment I'm working with 2010, but I'd still like to keep the 2003 files.


Cheers,

Mike

Ok,

after a sorting in Excel 2010, there's an option to reverse the sorting - the sort button in Data is orange, and if you press it, the sorting is undone.
Am I right ? (As I am new to Excel 2010, I may be wrong, but so it seems to me). I want a solution for cancelling the undoing possibility.
All this IS NOT available in Excel 2003.

But, ...I also see that after saving & closing the file, (next day) the button has become gray again. (I still need to make sure on that).
If that is true, then THIS is the solution I was looking for.


Thanks & cheers,

Mike