GOOGLE SHEETS: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

[guestuser]

I am sorting a list of client names. One of the companies' names starts with AAA. For some reason, when I sort the range by alphabet, this name ends up at the end of the list (under names starting with Z). Why is this? Is there any way to fix it?
Note, it is not an option to change the name to something else, as there are many lookups and links to other reports where that exact name is used.

 

[Joe4]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

Is this column you are sorting on hard-coded, or the result of formulas?

Let's say that this value is in cell A8. Enter this formula anywhere on the sheet, and tell us what it returns:

=CODE(LEFT(A8,1))

(obviously, change the A8 reference to whatever cell the "AAA" name starts in).

Now, do the same thing for one of your entries that begins with a "Z".

Answer the first question, and let us know the outcome of the other two things I asked you to do, as that will give us important information.

 

[guestuser]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

It's hardcoded. No formulas in this sheet, as it's my main database. Other sheets pull from this one.

 

[Joe4]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

Quote from my original response

...and let us know the outcome of the other two things I asked you to do, as that will give us important information.

Please do that. I have a suspicion of what may be happening, but I need you to do those things I asked and tell us what the formulas return in those two cases.

 

[guestuser]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

Code: =CODE(LEFT(A8,1))
Cell with AAA: 65
Cell starting with Z: 90

 

[RoryA]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

Do you have any custom lists set up in Excel on that machine?

 

[guestuser]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

Do you have any custom lists set up in Excel on that machine?

No

 

[Joe4]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

That does not seem to make any sense to me.
How exactly are you doing this sort?
Are you including all rows and columns?
Is your FIRST sort preference on this Name column?
Do you have any VBA code that may be interfering with this?

 

[guestuser]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

The first sort column is by status (there are 6-7 different statuses, on data validation, so they're all the same. No typo's or anything). Second is by name. I sort the entire sheet, as this is my main database. A:CG (content up til BF)
I should maybe have mentioned it's a google sheet.. not specifically excel. So no VBA.

 

[Joe4]

Re: AAA sorts at end of alphabet

I should maybe have mentioned it's a google sheet

Yes, you should have mentioned that from the start. That is CRITICAL information. Google Sheets and Excel are NOT the same thing. I know very little about Google Sheets (I don't use them).

I have moved this out of the "Excel Questions" forum, as it is not an Excel question. I have moved it to the "General Excel Discussion & Other Questions" forum, and updated your title so people know that it is a Google Sheets question.

Hopefully, someone with knowledge about Google Sheets will be able to help you.