Microsoft KB Archive/178412

= XL98: How to Sort Cells Without Sorting Linked Cells =

Article ID: 178412

Article Last Modified on 9/11/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q178412



SUMMARY
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.



MORE INFORMATION
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, type 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, and then click Descending. 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.

