Question:
How do I filter out rows that start where the first column is: AC, AK, BY, CE, CM and so forth?
In other words, I want to group the data by rows, but the rows are distributed throughout.
I tried to use the auto-filter and then CONTAINS, but then I am only limited to 2 criteria.


tia

 

Try sorting the rows by column A. That would group them my the route. Is that what you are looking for?

Select the group of data you want to sort ie A1 through I?? then Data->Sort->Sort by Column A->ok

 

Or maybe an HLOOKUP?

 

i suck at excel i can barely print things right

 

No, I do not want to sort. I want it to filter out the Routes I want.
For example, I want to only the routes
CT
MT
PG
PT
SL
SS
to show up. and then do it all over again for a different group of routes. How would I do this?


JC, what is HLookup?

 

Then, yes, HLookup will work.

 

Hlookup is a function that when run matches your set criteria to an item in a certain column, then returns a specified value from a column in the same row as the item. Kinda complicated to explain, and the Excel help file would probably be a better guide.

I'd actually use a Pivot table if I were you, but thats even harder to explain the setup of than the Hlookup function. I suggest going into excel help - check pivot tables out if you want. It's a pretty useful thing to know

 

Sounds like Hlookup would only display a value, but I am looking to be able to see the whole row.

I'll check out what a Pivot table is, thanks

 

Thanks JC

I think a pivot table helped much more than trying to figure out how to get HLookup to do what I want.

Now I just gotta find a way to keep this pivot table as a "template" that I can copy over to a new workbook whenever I get emailed a new workbook.

Here's what it looks like so far:

 

Good luck with everything

 

just save it as your template now, and when you get new data, copy that data into the template and refresh the pivot table. that will save you from recreating it everytime.

 

Thanks, everyone.
that's what I'll do from now on.