Re: Sorting by 2 columns

Note that if you have difficulty with the column selection (Alt+drag can be problematic in recent versions of Word), there is another approach:

1. Select the text and use Table | Convert | Text to Table, separating at Tabs. This will result in a two-column table.

2. Select the table (or just click in it) and use Table | Convert | Table to Text, separating with paragraph marks. This will result in a single column. It will be in a different order from the one created by column-selecting and dragging, since you'll be alternating entries from column 1 and column 2, but since you're going to sort the whole thing, anyway, it won't matter.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

"Rick" <Rick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:9727916F-2EA3-4814-BC44-70E4C3C18614@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

This works correctly for me. How many tabs have you inserted to separate
your 'columns' - and what result do you expect to see?

Let's take the example

Joe Bloggs
Alan Bloggs
Alan Jones
Brian Smith

that should sort to
Alan Bloggs
Alan Jones
Brian Smith
Joe Bloggs

or if sorted on Field 2 then Field 1

Alan Bloggs
Joe Bloggs
Alan Jones
Brian Smith


--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


Rick wrote:
> I have created two columns separated by tabs and I'm trying to sort
> them alphabetically by the items in the first column then by the
> second. I'm following the instructions in HELP but it's not working:
> Select both columns, Table/Sort, Options, Tabs, OK, Field 1, Field 2,
> No header row, OK. Any suggestions


Your explanation helped immensely. Per Suzanne's email, I did misinterpret what the function is designed to do. I'm going to go back and work on it. Thanks.





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