Sorting Decimal Numbers in an Outline

Assume that you create the following outline numbers in cells A1:A6:

 A1: 1.1.0 

A2: 1.10.0 

A3: 1.2.0 

A4: 1.20.0 

A5: 1.21.1 

A6: 1.3.0 

After you sort the outline numbers, they are displayed in the same order (the order in which you typed them). However, if you want the numbers between each decimal to be sorted, use the Text Import Wizard. For example, to sort the sample numbers, follow these steps: 

1. Select cells A1:A6 

2. Click Text to Columns on the Data menu. 

3. In step 1, click Delimited, and then click Next. 

4. In Delimiters, clear every option except Other. In the Other box, type a period. Click Next. 

5. In step 2, type $B$1 in the Destination box so that the original outline is not overwritten. Click Finish. 

The numbers appear in columns B, C, and D. 6. Select cells A1:D6. 

7. On the Data menu, click Sort. 

8. In the Sort by list, click column B. 

9. In the Then by box, click column C. 

10. In the Then by list, click column D. 

Click OK. The sorted list appears in column A

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