When using SORTBY, the most common questions involve errors, unexpected order, and reusing formula results; this FAQ includes 3 common questions and a glossary.
FAQ
What should I do if SORTBY shows a #VALUE! error?
- Check whether the referenced ranges in each argument match correctly.
- Confirm that the data types in the sorting array are consistent, so text and numbers are not mixed in a way that affects the result.
- If cells contain extra spaces or non-printing characters, clean the data and calculate again.
Why is the SORTBY result not in the order I expected?
- Check whether the correct sorting array was selected.
- Confirm that the ascending or descending setting matches your current need.
- If multiple conditions are involved, review the order of each sort key one by one.
How to use the SORTBY function in WPS on Windows in multiple places?
- First confirm the result range returned by the SORTBY formula in the target area.
- Copy the formula to other locations as needed, or adjust the referenced range to generate a new sorted result.
- If the formula uses relative references, switch to absolute references where needed to keep the result stable.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| SORTBY | A sorting function in WPS Spreadsheets that sorts results by a specified array or field and returns a new array. |
| Dynamic array | A calculation method in which one formula returns multiple results and spills them into adjacent cells automatically. |
| Sort key | The column, array, or field used to determine the order of the returned result. |