XL: How to Run a Sort When a Calculation Occurs

ID: Q152383

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can sort data when a calculation occurs on a worksheet by using the OnCalculate property.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

1. Enter the following in a worksheet:

   A1: Stock Name  B1: Yesterday's Quote  C1: Today's Quote     D1: Change
   A2: ABC         B2: 2.00               C2: 3.00              D2:
   A3: LMO         B3: 1.00               C3: 0.50              D3:
   A4: UVW         B4: 5.00               C4: 9.00              D4:
   A5: XYZ         B5: 12.00              C5: 11.50             D5:

      D2: =C2-B2

   With cell D2 selected, grab the fill handle and fill down the formula
   through cell D5. The resulting cells will look as follows:

      D1:  Change
      D2:   1.00
      D3:  -0.50
      D4:   4.00
      D5:  -0.50

      Sub ActivateSortRoutine()
         Workbooks("book1").Sheets("sheet1").OnCalculate = "SortRoutine"
         ' This sets the OnCalculate property. Replace book1 with your
         ' workbook including the file extension, if any, and sheet1 with
         ' the name of your sheet.
      End Sub

      Sub SortRoutine()
         Range(ActiveCell.Address).CurrentRegion.Select ' Selects list.
         Selection.Sort Key1:=Range("d2"), Order1:=xlDescending, Header:= _
            xlYes, OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, Orientation:= _
            xlTopToBottom
         ' This will do a descending sort, based on data in column D,
         ' ignoring the header row.
         Range("d1").Select
         ' Clears highlight of list and selects the header of data in
         ' column D.
      End Sub

      Sub StopActivateSortRoutine()
         ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.OnCalculate = ""
         ' Stop running the CallSortRoutine macro.
      End Sub

   select "ActivateSortRoutine" (without the quotation marks), and then
   click Run.

   After you run the ActivateSortRoutine, the SortRoutine macro will run
   when a calculation occurs on the worksheet. To stop the sorting, choose
   one of the three following methods:

    - Run the StopActivateSortRoutine macro. To do so, click Macro on the
      Tools menu, select "StopActivateSortRoutine" (without the quotation
      marks), and click Run.

    - Change the calculation mode to manual. To do so, click Options on the
      Tools menu, click the Calculation Tab, select Manual, and then click
      OK.

    - Quit Microsoft Excel by clicking on Exit on the File menu.

Keywords          : kbcode kbprg PgmHowto 
Version           : WINDOWS: 5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a; MACINTOSH: 5.0,5.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999