Sort by groups of rows rather than single rows in Excel
Hello,
Is there any way in Excel (2007) to permanently tie groups of rows together?
For example, suppose you have a database with several hundred records and for several reasons (e.g. amount and type of data for each record, display purposes, etc.) it is most desirable to use five rows for each record rather than a single row.
Now, suppose you want to sort the records for some reason. In a typical sort, each row is treated separately and sorted against every other row. However, in the scenario mentioned above, you would want each group of five rows to always stay together and be sorted against all other groups of five rows.
Is that doable? If not, is there a good workaround or alternative approach that can accomplish the same thing?
Thanks
Is there any way in Excel (2007) to permanently tie groups of rows together?
For example, suppose you have a database with several hundred records and for several reasons (e.g. amount and type of data for each record, display purposes, etc.) it is most desirable to use five rows for each record rather than a single row.
Now, suppose you want to sort the records for some reason. In a typical sort, each row is treated separately and sorted against every other row. However, in the scenario mentioned above, you would want each group of five rows to always stay together and be sorted against all other groups of five rows.
Is that doable? If not, is there a good workaround or alternative approach that can accomplish the same thing?
Thanks
Saqib Husain
Upload a sample and we can show workarounds
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IF you have that much data and that sort of requirment AND you refer to it as a database......
Why not use a database?
Why not use a database?
ASKER
Thanks for the responses.
Neilsr:
IF you have that much data and that sort of requirment AND you refer to it as a database......
Why not use a database?
That is a very good point and one that has got me thinking. To be honest with you, I have never used any database software and would not know where to begin. I use Excel for just about everything, including what would normally be done in MS Word, so I am apprehensive about branching out but maybe this is something I should pursue.
Do you have a recommendation regarding which application to try? Also, is it always possible to toggle the data back into a spreadsheet format whenever you want?
Thanks
Neilsr:
IF you have that much data and that sort of requirment AND you refer to it as a database......
Why not use a database?
That is a very good point and one that has got me thinking. To be honest with you, I have never used any database software and would not know where to begin. I use Excel for just about everything, including what would normally be done in MS Word, so I am apprehensive about branching out but maybe this is something I should pursue.
Do you have a recommendation regarding which application to try? Also, is it always possible to toggle the data back into a spreadsheet format whenever you want?
Thanks
Why don't you upload a sample for the excel nerds to have a go?