Common questions about Sort usually involve sorting results, data ranges, and multi-level settings; this section includes 4 FAQs and a glossary.
FAQ
What should I do if the data looks disordered after sorting?
- Press Ctrl + Z to undo the last sort.
- Select the full data range instead of only one column.
- Run the sort again and make sure related rows are included together.
Why does the sorting result not match what I expected?
- Check whether the selected cell is in the correct target column.
- Confirm whether you chose ascending, descending, or the correct custom sort settings.
- If you used multiple conditions, review the order of the primary and secondary keys.
Can I use more than one condition in Custom Sort?
- Yes. Set the primary key first in the Custom Sort dialog box.
- Click Add Condition to add another level.
- Click OK to apply the multi-level sort.
What should I check before sorting data?
- Back up important data first or make sure the action can be undone.
- Confirm that the header row, data columns, and records are complete and continuous.
- For mixed-content columns, check whether the data format is consistent.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ascending | Sorting data from low to high, early to late, or A to Z. |
| Descending | Sorting data from high to low, late to early, or Z to A. |
| Custom Sort | A sorting method that lets you define one or more sorting conditions in a dialog box. |
| Primary Key | The first field used in a multi-level sort. |
| Secondary Key | The next field used when records share the same primary key value. |