VB Macro to Sort Custom List on First and Second Keys

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to 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 requirements. The following sample macro shows how you can perform a custom list sort on multiple keys. The macro performs a custom sort on the second key and then a normal sort on the first key.

 Sub Second_Key_Custom_Sort()

       ' Selects the entire list.
       Selection.CurrentRegion.Select

       ' Does the sort here with Custom List 1 which is Normal.
       ' It also assumes the list has headers.
       ' The sort is done on column A.
       Selection.Sort Key1:=Range("A1"), Header:=xlYes, OrderCustom:=1

       ActiveSheet.Range("a2").Select

   ' Line label.
   Again:

       ' Loops until it reachs an empty cell.
       Do Until IsEmpty(ActiveCell)
           ' Gets row number of the starting row.
           StartRow = ActiveCell.Row
           ' Gets the value from the starting cell.
           CellVal = ActiveCell.Value
           ' Starts a loop that will continue until it finds a different
           ' value.
           Do Until ActiveCell.Value <> CellVal
               ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Select
           Loop
           ' Selects one cell up.
           ActiveCell.Offset(-1, 0).Select
           ' Gets the ending address.
           EndAdd = ActiveCell.Address
           ' Gets the ending row.
           EndRow = ActiveCell.Row
           ' Select from the beginning row to the ending row.
           ' If you know the columns you want to sort, you can
           ' concatenate them in here.
           ActiveSheet.Range(StartRow & ":" & EndRow).Select
           ' Does the sort for the selection.
           ' Assumes no headers.
           ' Bases Sort on the 4th item in custom list.
           Selection.Sort Key1:=Range("b" & StartRow), _
               Header:=xlNo, OrderCustom:=4
           ' Selects the last cell in that group.
           ActiveSheet.Range(EndAdd).Select
           ' Starts on the next line with a new value.
           ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Select
           ' Goes to the line label again.
           GoTo Again
       Loop

   End Sub
				

To Create and Run This Macro

1. In a new workbook, enter the macro code on a module sheet.
2. In Sheet1, enter the following sample custom list:

          A1: Number   B1: Month
          A2: 1        B2: Sep
          A3: 2        B3: Nov
          A4: 1        B4: Jun
          A5: 1        B5: Jan
          A6: 2        B6: Mar
          A7: 1        B7: Dec
          A8: 2        B8: May
          A9: 2        B9: Feb
         A10: 1       B10: Apr
   						

3. Select any cell in the list.
4. Run the macro.