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General discussion

Inverting Data in a Column

Mar 8, 2010 4:30AM PST

Hi, I have a column of data, 1 word in each cell, 50 rows. I would like to know if there is a way to invert that column so that the bottom rows become the top rows and vice versa.

Discussion is locked

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Yep.
Mar 8, 2010 5:14AM PST

But I've forgotten how to do it!

You do mean in Excel don't you?

If so, and assuming this is not Excel 2007, but some previous version, highlight all cells in the column, then goto the Data menu and choose Sort.

There are also two menu buttons on the Standard toolbar, One with A-Z^ and the other with Z-A{down arrow}.

This site explains more;
http://tutorials.freeskills.com/excel-2002-data-lists.htm

Does that help?

Mark

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Re: inverting
Mar 8, 2010 6:46AM PST

That would only work if it is sorted in some way, for example, changing
1
3
5
8
in
8
5
3
1
(sort descending)
but not if it's
3
1
8
5
and should become
5
8
1
3

Then we need a trick. Luckily, tricks are easy to do in Excel. Make a new column next to the original column and fill that with 1,2,3,4 (using the range fill command). Then select the right area of the 2 columns, and sort that block on the new column, descending. Like this
3 1
1 2
8 3
5 4
becomes
5 4
8 3
1 2
3 1
Finally, delete (or hide) the added column.

Kees

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No
Mar 8, 2010 9:53AM PST

Mark, it was a chart I created in Word.

Thanks Kees, very creative.

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Ahh, Word.
Mar 8, 2010 7:00PM PST

In that case I have to pass. I always tried to avoid complicated table operations in Word.

Hope you find a solution.

Mark

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Re: Word
Mar 8, 2010 8:05PM PST

1. Copy/paste to Excel
2. Do it in Excel
3. Copy/paste back to Word.

Kees