XL: How to Run a Sort When a Calculation Occurs

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can sort data when a calculation occurs on a worksheet by using the OnCalculate property.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

1. Enter the following in a worksheet:

      A1: Stock Name  B1: Yesterday's Quote  C1: Today's Quote     D1: Change
      A2: ABC         B2: 2.00               C2: 3.00              D2:
      A3: LMO         B3: 1.00               C3: 0.50              D3:
      A4: UVW         B4: 5.00               C4: 9.00              D4:
      A5: XYZ         B5: 12.00              C5: 11.50             D5:
   
   

2. Type the following formula in cell D2:

         D2: =C2-B2
   

   With cell D2 selected, grab the fill handle and fill down the formula through cell D5. The resulting cells will look as follows:

         D1:  Change
         D2:   1.00
         D3:  -0.50
         D4:   4.00
         D5:  -0.50
   
   

3. Enter the following macro code in a module sheet:

         Sub ActivateSortRoutine()
            Workbooks("book1").Sheets("sheet1").OnCalculate = "SortRoutine"
            ' This sets the OnCalculate property. Replace book1 with your
            ' workbook including the file extension, if any, and sheet1 with
            ' the name of your sheet.
         End Sub
   
         Sub SortRoutine()
            Range(ActiveCell.Address).CurrentRegion.Select ' Selects list.
            Selection.Sort Key1:=Range("d2"), Order1:=xlDescending, Header:= _
               xlYes, OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, Orientation:= _
               xlTopToBottom
            ' This will do a descending sort, based on data in column D,
            ' ignoring the header row.
            Range("d1").Select
            ' Clears highlight of list and selects the header of data in
            ' column D.
         End Sub
   
         Sub StopActivateSortRoutine()
            ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.OnCalculate = ""
            ' Stop running the CallSortRoutine macro.
         End Sub
   
   

4. To run the ActivateSortRoutine macro, on the Tools menu click Macro, select "ActivateSortRoutine" (without the quotation marks), and then click Run.

   After you run the ActivateSortRoutine, the SortRoutine macro will run when a calculation occurs on the worksheet. To stop the sorting, choose one of the three following methods:

       - Run the StopActivateSortRoutine macro. To do so, click Macro on the
         Tools menu, select "StopActivateSortRoutine" (without the quotation
         marks), and click Run.
   

       - Change the calculation mode to manual. To do so, click Options on the
         Tools menu, click the Calculation Tab, select Manual, and then click
         OK.
   

       - Quit Microsoft Excel by clicking on Exit on the File menu.
   

Keywords          : kbcode kbprg PgmHowto
Version           : WINDOWS: 5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a; MACINTOSH: 5.0,5.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto