Excel 2010 Just the Steps For Dummies
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You may find data in Excel 2010 worksheets easier to view if it's sorted on a particular column, in ascending or descending order. Excel sorts in the following pattern: numbers, spaces, special characters (such as ! " # $ % & * < = >) and finally, alphabetic letters.

Sorting data in ascending order sorts text from A to Z; numeric information from low to high; and dates with the earliest date first. Sorting data in descending order sorts text from Z to A; numeric information high to low; and dates with the most recent date first.

Create a contiguous list with headings specifying the contents of each column.

Create a contiguous list with headings specifying the contents of each column.

For the easiest sorting, there should be no blank rows or columns in the list.

In the column you want to sort by, click any cell containing data.

If the data isn’t in a contiguous list, you must first select the entire list. If Excel finds unselected data in columns next to the selected data, it may prompt you for more information.

Click the Sort A to Z button in the Sort & Filter group on the Data tab.

Click the Sort A to Z button in the Sort & Filter group on the Data tab.

If the current cell contains a value, the button’s ScreenTip displays Sort Smallest to Largest. If the cell contains a date, the button’s ScreenTip displays Sort Oldest to Newest. Excel sorts the entire list in ascending order on the specified column.

Click the Sort Z to A button in the Sort & Filter group on the Data tab.

Excel sorts the entire list by descending order on the current column. If Excel incorrectly sorts a cell that contains a value, make sure the cell is formatted as a number and not as text.

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Diane Koers owns and operates All Business Service, a software training and consulting business formed in 1988, that services the central Indiana area. Her area of expertise has long been in the word-processing, spreadsheet, and graphics areas of computing. She also provides training and support for Peachtree Accounting Software. Diane's authoring experience includes over 40 books on topics, such as PC security, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, WordPerfect, Paint Shop Pro, Lotus SmartSuite, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and Peachtree Accounting. Many of these titles have been translated into other languages, such as French, Dutch, Bulgarian, Spanish, and Greek. She has also developed and written numerous training manuals for her clients.
Diane and her husband enjoy spending their free time fishing, traveling, and playing with their four grandsons and their Yorkshire Terrier.

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