Solved Re: EXCEL- resorting rows so they each relate to original rows

[Lisa288]

Re: EXCEL- resorting rows so they each relate to original rows

Hi,

I couldn't find an answer in the Forums for this in the past half hour of looking through them- there are so many, and I need an answer sooner than in the 4 or 5 days it will take me to get through them in HOPES of finding my answer. Sorry. So could someone who knows Excel in Windows 7 help me?

I uploaded a bunch of keyword searches. Came up with 4 columns and anywhere from 100- 400 rows. I need to sort these in different ways. By Keyword so the spreadsheet is by alpha, then by Demand with highest at top/lowest at top, by Supply highest at top/lowest at top, and by Profitability highest/lowest. I know I can't do all at once, I am referring to different sorting methods.

Example: (you have to imagine 4 columns, and the numbers going under each column- when I saw the preview it bunched the numbers together and I can't seem to put them where they belong, but the first # goes under the second col (B), second # goes under "C", third # goes under "D" column:

COLUMNS:

A-----------------------------B-----------C-------------D

KEYWORD DEMAND SUPPLY PROFITABILITY
breathing exercises 7995 5306 1507
celebrations 8523 142301 60
cervical 10235 58395 175
chakra 28455 43099 660

My problem has been that in reading the instructions I don't understand how to do this (perhaps I'm just dumb!) so that each word will still have the "right" numbers across each row...e.g. say I want to move the rows so LOWEST profitability shows at top. In example, that would be the word "celebrations." I need to have all rows retain the numbers that refer to celebrations- not just have the numbers under "Profitability" change because then, they would not match up to the keyword. I need the new first row to read: celebrations 8523 142301 60 and all other rows to line up so the numbers still match up to the words like that.

In other words I need all columns sorted so lowest Profitability (60) is at top of page, but the ROW remains reading as it does now...and my 'sort' continues down that column with next-lowest profitabilty, and next... but again, I need all rows to remain the same across as they appear now. (I can't have 'chakra show up with Profitability of 60.)

I hope I'm explaining this right. In reading how to sort, I can only seem to figure out how to sort ONE column at a time, when I need all ROWS to change right along with each column, so that the current, proper numbers relate to proper words as they appear now. I'm guessing this is a very basic question for anyone who uses Excel.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Thanks very much,
Lisa

 

[kegobeer]

When you sort in Excel, you select all of the rows and columns of the data to be sorted. When you apply a sort to one (or many) columns, all of the data on each row is kept complete and moved up or down.

Is that what you needed to hear?

 

[Lisa288]

Yes, it's what I mean (thanks for the quick reply)...how do I do this? Do I highlight all rows and columns I want to sort? How do I then sort by one column if I've done this? Could you just tell me the steps involved, please?

Thanks so much!
Lisa

 

[kegobeer]

Yes, you highlight the rows and columns of your data, then sort by the column you want.

You should check out the following links.

Sort data in a range or table - Excel - Office.com
Excel Sorting Data Basics

 

[Lisa288]

Thanks for the additional info...I'm reading about it now...just wanted to let you know I got your message

 

[Lisa288]

WORKED! Thank you so very much!

Lisa

 

[kegobeer]

You're welcome.

 

[Lisa288]

I just never found the right area to explain how to do it in my own searching. This will help me TREMENDOUSLY because I'm building a website and I'll be needing to do these sorts on hundreds of Excel files!

Have a great night, and again, thanks so much for such a QUICK reply!

Lisa