Need Help: Data changes when table is sorted

[gdskidmore]

Help Please,

I have a requirements table in excel. It has a 'requirement ID' column, a 'requirement short title' column, a 'requirement text' column, a 'requirement traced from' column, a 'requirement traced to' column, plus a lot more columns...

In the 'requirement traced from' column, I press '=' and then click on the 'requirement ID' of the correct higher level requirement and press 'enter'. Thus I have a link from the current requirement to its parent requirement.

In the 'requirement traced to' column, I press '=' and then click on the 'requirement ID' of the correct lower level requirement and press 'enter'. Thus I have a link from the current requirement to its child requirement.

When I sort the table, my links are corrupted. They no longer connect to the same parent or the same child requirements. I have tried all four types of references (=$A$2) and nothing helps.

How can I sort the rows in various ways and the data in the columns stays linked to the correct parent and child requirement?

Need help...
GDS

 

[gdskidmore]

Re: Need Help: Data changes when table is sorted - ANY GURUs OUT THERE?

WOW! THIS MUST BE TOO HARD FOR MR. EXCEL. NO HELP SO FAR. I ASSUMED SOME OF YOU GURUs WOULD KNOW HOW TO DO THIS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. ANYONE WILLING TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE?