Cell Formula Corruption with sort

Thanks for your prompt and lucid explanation of how the sort engine is implemented.  Also for catching the spelling error.

I want to construct a data dictionary to support Data Flow Diagram methodology diagramming (Structured Analysis, Tom DeMarco).  Data flows may comprise multiple sub-data flows (basically a container) or be a leaf which is a defining element with no children. 

The result is basically instances of hierarchical data definition structures where any data flow can be a component of one or more other data flows.  

Thus, in the example, Position comprises Longitude, Latitude, and Elevation.  By using cell formulas as references to the lower level components, these components can be referenced in many places and if the data flow name is modified, it is automatically updated everywhere in the dictionary.

This is an experiment to see if excel can be used as a "data base" for data flow names to be referenced to data flows in data flow diagrams created in Visio.  

Clearly, I should be able to manually create the such a spreadsheet in alphabetic order and insert new entries in the proper location and manually insert the formula references where they are needed.  It might not be too bad if taking advantage of the split screen capability of Excel.  

I have considered the possibility of using Access but from what I understand is that trying to implement hierarchical structures with tables and relations requires arcane processes and is not intuitively obvious to the users.  

Unfortunately, there are the few DFD tools that support the methodology and they simply create pictures with no underlying information.   

If you have any insight on this issue and have suggestions, please feel free to let me know.

Regards,

Darold Smith

PE Software & Electrical Engneering

Certified Systems Engineering Professional (INCOSE)