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Error when sorting: "Missing column/row name"

Anonymous
2011-12-04T21:01:43+00:00

How to solve this error message that won't let me sort?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2015-01-20T23:32:14+00:00

I had the same problem and figured it out following these steps:

1- Click on the first cell on the spreadsheet

2-  then go to Data » Sort. 

3- Select "My list has headers;" sort by Columns; Sort on Values; Order A-Z, if your columns have a header (title)

(if you click the arrow down in columns you will see the heading of your columns)

4- Go to "options" and select either top to bottom, or side to side!

5- Press OK

The problem I was having is that I was not using the "options" button to select the direction of the page the text should be sorted.  I usually do it Top to Bottom, not Side by Side.

Hope it helps.

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Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2011-12-06T02:41:04+00:00

If you are sorting a column type a word into the first cell at the top of the column you are sorting.

If you are sorting a row, type a word  into the first row of the row you are sorting.

If you are sorting a table, every column must have a label.

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Anonymous
2011-12-04T23:06:35+00:00

Do you have the column named (usually the first row in a Column to enter name of the column)?

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-17T17:40:13+00:00

    not helpful  I have the coloum named but i still the message

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