Ask a new question

Excel Not Sorting Numbers Correctly

Hello,

I am asking Excel to do something very simple, yet it can't, as far as I can tell: Sort a column from smallest to largest.

Try this:

CELLS RANDOM #
2 1.0
8 12.7
10 12.3
5 78.8
9 72.7
15 76.3
6 50.6
3 36.5
16 98.9
1 56.6
7 50.4
14 72.3
4 55.8
12 28.3
13 73.9
11 88.8

Try to sort the Random #s; it won't.

How can this get fixed?

Regards,

Marc

If the RANDOM # column contains formulas =RAND(), Excel will recalculate the formulas when you sort the column, producing new random values, which will not be sorted.

You'd have to replace the formulas with their values if you want to sort the column successfully (select the column, copy it, then click the lower half of the Paste button and select Values)

---
Best wishes, HansV
https://www.eileenslounge.com

11 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

If the RANDOM # column contains formulas =RAND(), Excel will recalculate the formulas when you sort the column, producing new random values, which will not be sorted.

You'd have to replace the formulas with their values if you want to sort the column successfully (select the column, copy it, then click the lower half of the Paste button and select Values)

Yes. 

Thanks for the quick reply, Hans.

I noticed that right after I posted this: Excel is getting confused as to what to sort, as all it sees in each line of that column is a formula. And, what you said is what I did.

Perfect. Thank you so much for the very fast reply. I appreciate it!

Regards,

Marc

2 people found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

 
 

Question Info

Last updated April 13, 2025 Views 4,544 Applies to: