Question : Excel sorting query (data in multiple rows and columns)

Hi there,

Hope someone can help me with this problem.  I have a set of accounts data that I want to sort in Excel  its an expanded version of the attached .xls file.

I have a list of companies in Column A, followed by four further columns representing Current, 30 days, 60 days and 90 days respectively.  Each company has an amount payable that may fall into any one of these four columns - but only one column per company (i.e. the amount that respective company owes only falls into one of those time period columns).

What I want the Excel function (or whatever) to do is to sort the companies but by highest amount owed. Obviously the highest amount may be in column B, C, D  or E and ditto with the next highest amount. Obviously it's very simple to sort on one column, but I can't seem to find an easy way to sort across four columns at the same time as multiple rows.

For the purposes of clarity, once sorted correctly this table should have company E at the top of the list and company L at the bottom of the list. The amounts payable naturally should be kept in their own respective column heading (ie 60 days, 90 days etc).

Many thanks for any help anyone can offer!

Answer : Excel sorting query (data in multiple rows and columns)

I would add a formula to another column.  In the attached spreadsheet, I have added this formula to column G.  Within this column, concatenate the values from columns b,c,d,e.  Then you can sort on the column G in descending order to get the table the way you want it.  

You may want to hide column G after sorting.

Experts-Excel-Problem-1-.xls (18 KB) (File Type Details) 

Expert Excel Problem