How do I sort my whole spreadsheet based on one row?

Question

Level 1

0 points

How do I sort my whole spreadsheet based on one row?

I'm using Numbers on my iPad to inventory a school's computer systems. I'm kind of doing it slowly as I get time, so I'm not inventorying in any particular order. I just go in a room when I get a chance and then inventory everything in it.

I have different columns for room, asset #, make, model, serial, inventory date

Just a few minutes ago, I was trying to sort my sheet by the asset # so I could see what gaps I have in the asset numbers. I selected the top bar and it highlights the whole column. Then I select sort and it only sorts the one column, which then totally screws up my sheet because my asset numbers are next to different random PCs that I just happened to inventory first. So, of course, I undo it. But I would like to be able to sort by asset # and have it sort all the cells based on the asset #, or sort by make or model and then I could see all the computers with a certain make or model and where they're at. There has to be a way to do this.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jun 21, 2012 11:13 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 21, 2012 11:46 AM in response to dorlow

dorlow,

The only explanation I can think of for your situation is that your columns are separate tables, a multiplicity of 1-column tables. Could this be possible in your case?

To test for this possibility, click on a Row Label and see if the entire row is selected, or if only the first cell is selected. If the entire row is selected, it's all one table and if only 1 cell is selected, it's a collection of tables and needs to be reorganized into one integrated table.

Jerry

Reply

Answer 2

dorlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 21, 2012 11:56 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

It highlights the whole row. It isn't an "integrated table" in the spreadsheet. It's just a blank spreadsheet I started. I didn't do anything fancy with it. I just created a few column labels that are fixed.

Reply

Answer 3

Jun 21, 2012 4:05 PM in response to dorlow

Perhaps someone here in the iOS discussion area (now that your post has been moved) will have an idea for you.

Jerry

Reply

Answer 4

dorlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 26, 2012 11:44 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

Does anyone know? I can't imagine they made a spreadsheet program without the ability to sort the whole spreadsheet based on a column.

Reply

Answer 5

Jun 26, 2012 1:12 PM in response to dorlow

dorlow,

I can't believe it either. Please don't be offended, but is it possible you are confusing row and column orientation? It's the only other explanation I can come up with, since you confirmed a single table. Could you post a screen shot of your table with the column you wish to sort on highlighted?

Jerry

Reply

Answer 6

dorlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 26, 2012 2:04 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

I probably said it backwards. I've been calling them columns... I think I mean rows. The rows have data up and down. I want to sort it so the lowest values at the top and highest values at the bottom. But I want all the other cells to stay sorted. Right now if I just select sort for the row, it sorts the one row and not the rest of them so it totally messes up my sheet.

It's just an inventory that I have a field that says make, model, asset #, serial, room #, etc.

I'd like to sort by asset # to see all the PCs and if I have a gap. Then I'd like to sort it by room number so when I walk in a room, I can tell if I missed a PC in the room and verify what I have. Then I might want to sort by the year row when we decide to upgrade so I can put all the oldest PCs first. But if it just sorts the row and not all the other columns in the row, it totally messes up my sheet. It just puts my years of pc from oldest to newest but didn't sort the rest of the fields. In Excel, if I do that, it sorts all the fields based on the one row.

I'm not sure how to give you a screenshot off my ipad.

Reply

Answer 7

Jun 26, 2012 2:14 PM in response to dorlow

Found this on the WikiHow site - To make a screen shot::

Simultaneously press the on / off switch and the center home button. You will notice an on-screen flash. If you have sound enabled, you will hear a camera click.

The screenshot will then appear in default photo application.

Jerry

Reply

Answer 8

KEANDAU

Level 1

28 points

Jun 29, 2012 5:35 PM in response to dorlow

Unfortunately, you will not be able to do exactly what you want. According to the manual, it only works if you want to sort the first column, then all the data in the rest of the sheet will sort with it.

So if your Room #'s are in the first Header column (this should be a darker color), and the information related to the rooms is entered along the rows (horizontally), then you tap the top of the first column, the pop-up appears, over-arrow to "Sort", choose Ascending/ Descending. It will sort the first column and the rest of the data in the table will sort with the column, or at least it should!

You cannot, however, choose the "Model Year" column (not the first) and sort with that.

Here is a work around: 'Insert' another first column, 'Cut' the column with data you wish to sort with, and 'Paste' into your 'new' first column. Then sort. I tried this method on my iPhone and it worked for me.

Kevin

Reply

Answer 9

dorlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 30, 2012 7:38 AM in response to KEANDAU

That works I guess. Thank you. Hopefully they'll fix that in the next release.

Reply