Sorting 1 column in a table

[Jasonmck]

Is there a way to sort 1 column in excel alapheticly and then numerically? This is for a flow in a warehouse. My flow goes 2a1.1, 2a1.2, 2a2.3, 2a3.4, 2a4.3, 2a5.3, 2a6.1, 2a7.3, 2a8.1, 2a9.3 2a10.1 and so on. The problem being when I sort alapheticly I doesn't sort it I the correct order. The order goes a1,a2, a3, a4, a 10, a5, a6, a7,a8, a9 for some odd reason. Can this be fixed. Thanks for you help

 

[mole999]

if you can afford some helper columns you could use =LEFT(Cell,1) for the number then another column for =MID(Cell,2,1) for the alpha part then sort on those two columns

 

[Jasonmck]

Yeah I see what you are saying. If possible I'd rather keep it all in 1 column. Is there any way to do this at all?

 

[mole999]

my daft idea would be to fake it, create the columns in VBA as helpers, sort as intended then delete the helpers