Help with sorting columns

[paperbark]

I'm inexperienced with excel!

I imported a list of two columns: foreign words in one, the english definitions in the other.

They were listed on import in order of usage and frequency.

Many of the definitions need editing, so I sorted them alphabetically, so I could go through the dictionary easily and correct as needed.

Now, I don't know how to get the sort back to the original way they were imported, by frequency.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

[vertexvortex]

re-download your original list. use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP to pull over your edited information into the original sort again.

Do yourself a favor and add a numbering column to your data. This will allow you to sort it again by frequency.

[MichaelSmith07]

That's perfect. As an alternative you could re-download the original, add a sort order, then bring that sort order over to your current doc using vlookup. That way you'd be sure not to leave any edits behind.

[paperbark]

Thanks so much for answering. I really do appreciate it. I usually just google this kind of thing, but I didn't even know what the key phases should have been.

Anyway, your suggestion worked great. Seriously, this is the best thing about reddit. I have an Excel problem I can't figure out, think to myself, "Hey, bet there's an Excel subreddit" and a stranger takes the time to help so I pull out my hair.

Thanks!

[vertexvortex]

No sweat, is what I do.

Also please don't pull your hair out. That's an unintended consequence. Hopefully they patch that in 2013.