XL97: Error When Sorting a Range Containing Merged Cells

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to sort a range on a worksheet, the following message may appear

This operation requires the merged cells to be identically sized.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when you sort a range of cells when the following conditions are true:

• You previously merged some, but not all, cells in the sort range.
  
  -or-



• You previously merged all cells in the sort range, and the cells are not all the same size.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, either unmerge all the merged cells in the range, or merge all the cells in the range such that the merged cells are the same size. Each merged cell in the range must occupy the same number of rows and columns as the other merged cells in the range.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about merging and unmerging cells, click the Office Assistant, type "merging cells," click Search, and then click to view "Merge cells to span several columns or rows" or "Split a merged cell into separate cells."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component

1. In a worksheet, type the following:




   A1:     B1  Name      C1: Value
   A2:     B2  Sue       C2: 1
   A3:     B3  Tom       C3: 2 

2. Merge cells A1 and B1, A2 and B2, and A3 and B3. To do this, select each pair of cells, click Cells on the Format menu, click the Alignment tab, click Merge cells, and click OK.
   
   Do not merge cells in column C.



3. Select cells A1:C3, click Sort on the Data menu, and click OK.

Additional query words: XL97 8.0 8.00

Keywords          : kberrmsg xlui xlformat xlformula 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : 

Last Reviewed: June 28, 1999