Microsoft KB Archive/212079

= HOW TO: Sort Cells Without Sorting Linked Cells in Excel 2000 =

Article ID: 212079

Article Last Modified on 9/27/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q212079



For a Microsoft Excel 97 and earlier version of this article, see 174537.

IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * How to Sort Cells

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article shows you how to sort linked data without affecting cells that are linked to the original data.

If you create links to a range of cells and you sort the data to which the cells are linked, the linked cells are updated with the sorted data. This article contains an example that sorts linked data without affecting cells that are linked to the original data.

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How to Sort Cells
In the following example, the formulas in column D are linked to cells in columns A and B. When you sort the data in columns A and B, the formulas in column D are not affected. To use this example, follow these steps:   On a new worksheet, enter the following values:      A1: 10     B1: 0     C1:     D1: =Offset($A$1,B1,0) A2: 20    B2: 1     C2:     D2: =Offset($A$1,B2,0) A3: 30    B3: 2     C3:     D3: =Offset($A$1,B3,0) A4: 40    B4: 3     C4:     D4: =Offset($A$1,B4,0)  Select cells A1:B4. On the Data menu, click Sort. Click Column A in the Sort By box, click Descending, and then click OK.

The linked cells remain linked to the data as it appeared in the original order, even after you sort the data in columns A and B.

NOTE: You must select both column A and column B to sort the list in the example. The formula uses column B as the original offset row number.

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