Sort Worksheet Data

Sorting data helps group similar data points together so that you can discover important facts from the data in the worksheet

TIP

    • When you sort a column, you rearrange the rows of the column. When you sort multiple columns, or a table, you rearrange all the rows based on the contents of a particular column
    • If the columns that you want to sort contain both numbers that are stored as numbers and numbers that are stored as text, the numbers will not sort correctly. Numbers that are stored as text are aligned left instead of right. To format selected numbers consistently, on the Home tab, under Number, in the Number Format box, select Text or Number.
    • To undo a sort just preformed, press command + Z (⌘Z)

 

Sort a column

1.   Click a cell in one of the columns that you want to sort

 NOTE       Data in adjacent columns will be sorted based on the column that you sort

2.   Do one of the following:           

  • From the Toolbar, click the down arrow next to Sort button
  • From the Ribbon, click Data tab, go to Sort & Filter group and click the down arrow next to Sort

 

 

3.   Select one of the options from the dropdown list

  • Ascending – the lowest values to the top of the column
  • Descending – the highest values to the top of the column



Sort multi-columns

1.   Click any cell in one of the columns that you want to sort

2.   Do one of the following:

  • From the Toolbar, click the down arrow next to Sort button and choose Custom Sort

 

  • From the Ribbon, click Data tab go to Sort & Filter group and click the down arrow next to Sort then choose Custom Sort

3.   In the Sort dialog box, do the following:

  • To remove a sort sorting level, select a sort rule in the Sort dialog box and click Remove Level button
  • If the table has a header row, select the My list has headers check box
  • Click Add Level button to add a sorting level
  • Click the Sort by list’s down arrow and select a desired column that you want to sort
  • Click the Sort on list’s down arrow and select Values
  • Click the Order list’s down arrow and select the desired sort order
  • Click OK