Home
Search
 
What's New
Index
Books
Links
Q & A
Newsletter
Banners
 
Feedback
Tip Jar
 
 
 
Old Pages
 
Old Index
Site Map
What's New
 
Books
How To
Tips & Tricks
Tutorials
Stories
Performance
Essays
Links
Q & A
New in VB6
Free Stuff
Pictures
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TitleSort Excel data using more than three columns
KeywordsExcel, Office, sort
CategoriesOffice
 
Excel only allows you to use three columns as sort keys. To sort using more than three columns as keys, sort using each column as a key individually in reverse order. In other words, to sort using columns A, B, C, and D, first sort using D, then using C, then using B, and finally using A.

The following code sorts the selected cells using all of their columns as keys.

 
' Sort the selected cells by column 1, column 2, etc.
Sub SortSelection()
    ' Sort using the columns in reverse order.
    For c = Selection.Columns.Count To 1 Step -1
        Selection.Sort _
            Key1:=Selection.Columns.Item(c), _
            Order1:=xlAscending, _
            Header:=xlGuess, _
            OrderCustom:=1, _
            MatchCase:=False, _
            Orientation:=xlTopToBottom
    Next c
End Sub
 
You'll need to modify this code if you want some columns sorted descending, if you want to not use some selected columns as keys, etc.

The sample file also includes a subroutine to randomize a selected of cells to test with, and a routine that verifies that the selected cells are properly sorted.

 
 
Copyright © 1997-2001 Rocky Mountain Computer Consulting, Inc.   All rights reserved.
  Updated