How to sort without automatic renumber of rows?

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emailbox2006-monical@paylessmagazines.net - 04 Nov 2006 21:59 GMT

I need to sort my spreadsheet in a particular way for a certain task,
but when I do, it renumbers the rows entirely! I want to be able to
sort without excel automatically renumbering the rows. How do I do
this?

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Niek Otten - 04 Nov 2006 22:15 GMT

Maybe you can explain what you try to achieve and why.
What I see is that the row numbers start with 1 and go up by 1, even after sorting which seems perfectly logical to me; a row
number is a row number.
Do you need some sort of identifier to sort with the original rows so you can spot the original location? If so, why/what are you
trying to do with that?

Signature

Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

|I need to sort my spreadsheet in a particular way for a certain task,
| but when I do, it renumbers the rows entirely! I want to be able to
| sort without excel automatically renumbering the rows. How do I do
| this?

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emailbox2006-monical@paylessmagazines.net - 05 Nov 2006 01:29 GMT

Thanks for the reply. In the end, I just decided to create a column
with the row numbers so I can always sort it back to the original order.

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CyberTaz - 05 Nov 2006 14:54 GMT

Just to help for clarification in the future:

The 'boxes' on the left edge of the sheet contain numbers that identify the
ROWs as a part of the program's operational needs. They are *not* specific
to the records you enter on those rows and therefore do not get rearranged
when you sort. That would be a horrendous mess :)

What you want would better be referred to as *Record Numbers* which is what
you are now using - an identifying piece of data entered into a cell on the
same Row as the record to which it pertains.

When you sort, the records wind up on different _rows_, but their _record
numbers_ will be right there with them.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

On 11/4/06 8:29 PM, in article
1162690168.580903.17690@h54g2000cwb.googlegroups.com,
"emailbox2006-monical@paylessmagazines.net"

> Thanks for the reply. In the end, I just decided to create a column
> with the row numbers so I can always sort it back to the original order.

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David McRitchie - 05 Nov 2006 20:54 GMT

Sorry I see that the original poster did do this, just posting
anyway in case with link to fill handle use in case that is
not entirely clear.

Create a new column (help column)
suppose it is column J
In J1 place 1
in J2 place 2
select J1:j2 and drag the fill handle down as far as you need.
If there is data is each cell to the left you can double
click the fill handle.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/fillhand.htm

You will be able to restore the original order by sorting
on that column.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

> I need to sort my spreadsheet in a particular way for a certain task,
> but when I do, it renumbers the rows entirely! I want to be able to
> sort without excel automatically renumbering the rows. How do I do
> this?

Reply to this Message