Need help with excel

[fader]

OK now iam at home and have access to open office with english version of formula names (they should be the same as excell).

I made two assumptions:

1. The value you looking for always end with * or <space>
If this is wrong then dont bother to read more....

2. The value you looking for is always in the beggining of text
Same as above....

3. The number you need to sorting is not longer then 3 digits
This can be adjusted.

Lets start then

You will need 3 extra columns for calculations (to avoid loops).
For my calculations i assumend that: column A contains raw data, column B first step of calculation, column C second, column D third.

Step one:
Use function FIND to determinate exat location of * symbol:
=FIND("*";A2)
Iam not sure but sometimes you need to put ~ before like this "~*" so the system will know that this is a symbol not a mask.

If this is correct then you will recive number when data conatins * symbol and error when not (thats ok)

Step two:

Use the IF function to determinate that B column contains number if not search for <space> symbol, if true use second IF to check the value: if equal or smaller 4 then copy value from B column, if bigger search for <space> symbol:

=IF(ISNUMBER(B2);IF(B2<=4;B2;FIND(" ";A2));FIND(" ";A2))

If the number is longer then 3 digits change bolded.

Step three:

Again use IF function to apply LEFT function based on number in C column or display info DATA ERR:

=IF(C2<=4;LEFT(A2;C2-1);"DATA ERR")

If the number is longer then 3 diggits change bolded.

Now you should have in column D raw numbers that you can use for sorting

As you can see you dont need to be a VB programmer

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