Re-sorting data in one cell from first name to surname

michch

New Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3
Someone has sent me a list of names (more than 90) which are typed into one cell, ie Fred Bloggs all in one cell. All the names are sorted by first name, ie Fred, not Bloggs, Fred, as I want them to be.

I know you can merge two cells into one to make them sort alphabetically but pretty sure I can't do anything with this other than retype the whole lot in surname, followed by first name...

Any ideas anyone??? Your help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Many thanks
 

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Try the text to columns feature in the Data menu. It will split your data so you can sort by last name. Then if you really want it in a single cell, you can concatenate the two columns in the appropriate order. HTH.
 
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Thats great thank you, I had no idea this feature existed. Unfortunately it seems only to want to work with fixed sized columns, the names are all difference character spaces so it is chopping some off in mid name, ie Fred Bloggs goes nicely into Bloggs and then another cell for Fred, but Jonathan Bloggs is chopped off at Jona and then thanjones into the second cell?? any ideas?

Much appreciated
 
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Choose the delimited option and select either a space or a comma (if the comma exists!). It is not limited to fixed width. Please don't do this manually as text to columns will make your life much easier. HTH
 
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Sorry didn't reply - been up to my neck in it! What a little beauty you are - thats brilliant - as you say - what a time saver - thank you VERY MUCH!!
Kind regards, Michele
 
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