The stock symbol for TrueCar Inc is "TRUE". When I sort the column containing the stock symbols, TRUE falls out of place at the end of the list. The cell is formatted as text. I am assuming that it is because "TRUE" has special meaning in Excel. Right now I am removing the "E", sorting the column so the row falls in the right place and then adding the E after the sort. Any ideas on a better approach?  

Hi, I have a similar sorting requirement, but with a unique problem ....
I have a range of Stock data which I need to sort in Category order.
The Range includes prices and one column has formulas.
The Category numbers range from 1 1a 1b etc to 32e.
I have continuously tried using a helper column with the formula =TEXT(K3,"###") - with K3 being the first Row in the Category column.
I select the helper column (N) and click Data - Sort - Expand the selection, but get no further as the "expansion" always selects from Row 40 - even if I select just a few rows in the helper column.
Why is this, and how can I sort my data correctly ?
Looking forward to a solution ....
Thanks.
Patrick.

Thanks for the tip on using a "helper column", but here's my question:

Is there a way to get the "related " columns to "tag along" with the sort precipitated by the helper column?

For example, column A contains a mixed-string product code that I can now sort into sequence using the "helper column" technique but, attached to that same product code are product descriptions, dimensions and other characteristics (some of which are also mixed-string in nature) in several other columns, and I need those to follow the "helper column" sort.

Any suggestions?

Much appreciated!

Lorne

I only see 1 method. Top of the article mentions that we will see 2 methods.

Trying to sort Alphanumeric with text. It is a fairly large list but below is an example. I can't strip the off the letter in a different column and sort by that because I have matching numbers that should come before them. I also can't really add a column to sort by and then hide that column - or delete it because I am constantly sorting the data. Any ideas? Will there be some formula? My current list: ---- What I want it to look like: 1 ---- 1 2 ---- 2 3 ---- 3 4 ---- 4 A1 ---- A1 A10 ---- A2 A100 ---- A3 A2 ---- A4 A20 ---- A5 A200 ---- A6 A3 ---- A7 A4 ---- A8 A5 ---- A9 A6 ---- A10 A60 ---- A20 A7 ---- A60 A8 ---- A100 A9 ---- A200

I am running in the same problem. I have 1200 part numbers that I need to sort the way it's shown above but excel will put V15 after V1 if V14 is absent. I need V14 to appear after V9 or V8, where ever the part number ends.

Trying to sort Alphanumeric with text. It is a fairly large list but below is an example. I can't strip the off the letter in a different column and sort by that because I have matching numbers that should come before them. I also can't really add a column to sort by and then hide that column - or delete it because I am constantly sorting the data. Any ideas? My current list: ---- What I want it to look like: 1 ---- 1 2 ---- 2 3 ---- 3 4 ---- 4 A1 ---- A1 A10 ---- A2 A100 ---- A3 A2 ---- A4 A20 ---- A5 A200 ---- A6 A3 ---- A7 A4 ---- A8 A5 ---- A9 A6 ---- A10 A60 ---- A20 A7 ---- A60 A8 ---- A100 A9 ---- A200

When I do this, the column sorts by individual character and I don't get the right order. For instance, if I have the following data: A1: 1 A2: 2 A3: 1a1 A4: 12 A5: 1a2 I want them to be sorted like this: A1: 1 A2: 1a1 A3: 1a2 A4: 2 A5: 12 Just sorting the column normally I end up with this: A1: 1 A2: 2 A3: 12 A4: 1a1 A5: 1a2 Where the numbers are sorted correctly and then the alphanumeric values are sorted correctly, but the two are not sorted together. When I use the method in the article, I end up with this: A1: 1 A2: 12 A3: 1a1 A4: 1a2 A5: 2 Where the numeric and alphanumeric data are sorted together but incorrectly (12 should come after 2). Why is this happening?