Format after sorting imported data

grandmaromy · May 10th, 2002, 09:37 AM

After I import data from an accounting system I cannot format it after it has been sorted. It can be formatted prior to sorting. Other than formatting first, is there a workaround?

Anne Troy · May 10th, 2002, 10:09 AM

Please define "cannot be formatted".

What do you mean? Can you explain the exact scenario and what occurs when you try to format, and HOW you are trying to format? Whether your data is text or numbers, etc.?

grandmaromy · May 10th, 2002, 11:03 AM

Quote:

On 2002-05-10 08:37, grandmaromy wrote:
After I import data from an accounting system I cannot format it after it has been sorted. It can be formatted prior to sorting. Other than formatting first, is there a workaround?

Highlight the cells, use "format" to change number format; use borders to frame cells, change date format. Even if it is recognizing numbers as text, the borders should work. This only happens after data has been sorted.

Nimrod · May 10th, 2002, 11:15 AM

If I understand the problem correctly I've never heard of this before.
What happens when you attempt a format after a sort ? Does it give error statement ? Or does nothing happen when you attempt the format ?

grandmaromy · May 10th, 2002, 11:28 AM

[quote]
On 2002-05-10 10:15, Nimrod wrote:
If I understand the problem correctly I've never heard of this before.
What happens when you attempt a format after a sort ? Does it give error statement ? Or does nothing happen when you attempt the format ?

It does nothing. One problem may be that I have to export from Solomon using an old Excel format. Perhaps if I save the imported data in the new Excel format then try to manipulate it, that might solve the problem.

grandmaromy · May 10th, 2002, 11:45 AM

nope. That doesn't work either.

Anne Troy · May 10th, 2002, 04:01 PM

Are you sure you're seeing this file in Excel and not from some Excel viewer? You say that you sort it and can no longer format?

I'd like to see one. Very interesting. Are you sorting manually or with code?

grandmaromy · May 11th, 2002, 11:06 AM

I am in Excel 2000. It will format before a sort but not after a sort. I use the data box then sort.

If I try to format after a sort I use the format box and it will not take.

Chris Davison · May 12th, 2002, 11:12 AM

Is it possible that the cells that don't allow formatting have been sorted into an area that is protected ?

grandmaromy · May 13th, 2002, 04:32 AM

I don't protect cells. I also imported to a blank worksheet.

May 10th, 2002, 10:09 AM	#2
Anne Troy MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 2,510	Please define "cannot be formatted". What do you mean? Can you explain the exact scenario and what occurs when you try to format, and HOW you are trying to format? Whether your data is text or numbers, etc.? __________________ ~Anne Troy

May 10th, 2002, 11:15 AM	#4
Nimrod MrExcel MVP Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Vancouver BC , Canada Posts: 6,259	If I understand the problem correctly I've never heard of this before. What happens when you attempt a format after a sort ? Does it give error statement ? Or does nothing happen when you attempt the format ? __________________ <MARQUEE>...........Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic...............The easiest thing to find is fault, don't be easy !.. --Anonymous--...</marquee>

May 10th, 2002, 04:01 PM	#7
Anne Troy MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 2,510	Are you sure you're seeing this file in Excel and not from some Excel viewer? You say that you sort it and can no longer format? I'd like to see one. Very interesting. Are you sorting manually or with code? __________________ ~Anne Troy

May 12th, 2002, 11:12 AM	#9
Chris Davison MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Millbank, London, UK Posts: 1,790	Is it possible that the cells that don't allow formatting have been sorted into an area that is protected ? __________________ :: Pharma Z - Family drugstore ::

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May 10th, 2002, 09:37 AM	#1
grandmaromy New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6	After I import data from an accounting system I cannot format it after it has been sorted. It can be formatted prior to sorting. Other than formatting first, is there a workaround?

May 10th, 2002, 11:28 AM	#5
grandmaromy New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6	[quote] On 2002-05-10 10:15, Nimrod wrote: If I understand the problem correctly I've never heard of this before. What happens when you attempt a format after a sort ? Does it give error statement ? Or does nothing happen when you attempt the format ? It does nothing. One problem may be that I have to export from Solomon using an old Excel format. Perhaps if I save the imported data in the new Excel format then try to manipulate it, that might solve the problem.

May 10th, 2002, 11:45 AM	#6
grandmaromy New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6	nope. That doesn't work either.

May 11th, 2002, 11:06 AM	#8
grandmaromy New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6	I am in Excel 2000. It will format before a sort but not after a sort. I use the data box then sort. If I try to format after a sort I use the format box and it will not take.

May 13th, 2002, 04:32 AM	#10
grandmaromy New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6	I don't protect cells. I also imported to a blank worksheet.