XL98: How to Sort Cells Without Sorting Linked Cells (178412)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q178412

SUMMARY

If you create links to a range of cells and you sort the data to which the cells are linked, the linked cells are updated with the sorted data. This article contains an example that sorts linked data without affecting cells that are linked to the original data.

MORE INFORMATION

In the following example, the formulas in column D are linked to cells in columns A and B. When you sort the data in columns A and B, the formulas in column D are not affected. To use this example, follow these steps:

  1. On a new worksheet, type the following values: 
          A1: 10     B1: 0     C1:     D1: =Offset($A$1,B1,0)
      A2: 20     B2: 1     C2:     D2: =Offset($A$1,B2,0)
      A3: 30     B3: 2     C3:     D3: =Offset($A$1,B3,0)
      A4: 40     B4: 3     C4:     D4: =Offset($A$1,B4,0)
  2. Select cells A1:B4.
  3. On the Data menu, click Sort.
  4. Click Column A in the Sort By box, and then click Descending. Click OK.
The linked cells remain linked to the data as it appeared in the original order even after you sort the data in columns A and B.

NOTE: You must select both column A and column B to sort the list in the example. The formula uses column B as the original offset row number.

REFERENCES

For more information about the OFFSET function, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

offset

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "OFFSET" topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/11/2002
Keywords:kbhowto KB178412
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.