Excel sort doesn't work

eddiebb

Okay so I've just done a small sheet.


column A


pear
banana
orange
apple


Each row I've named as a range using the contents of column A


When I then sort the data alphabetically the first row now contains apple but the range is still named pear.


Is this normal? Can it be changed so the range is kept with it's original data?

Mirno

Did you select all the columns you wanted to sort by?
If your data is:
A, pear, 10
B, banana, 15
C, orange, 17
D, apple, 3

You need to select all 3 columns before sorting, then select sort by column B in the first drop down. Otherwise it'll only sort the selected column leaving all others the same as they were.

If I've understood correctly...

rmg1

Sorting the columns doesn't affect the named range. You would need some sort of dynamic named range to deal with that (if that's even possible, it's something I've tried).

cookie365

Wouldn't this be better of in a table, rather than using named ranges?

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/excel-help/using-structured-references-with-excel-tables-HA010155686.aspx

EchoLocation

A defined Name does not have set a location, it only refers to a cell/range. It's not stored in a cell, nor is it a property of a cell.

If you can elaborate on what you're trying to achieve or why you need to use named ranges, we might be able to offer a solution.

andydiysaver

my guess is....you didn't specify the name for the range so it took the top name pear from the list. if you called the range "ABOUT AS FRUITY AS MY CATS a##e" then sorted it , you'd get apple, banana, orange, pear, but the range itself would still be called the above....