SORTBY in WPS on Windows: Introduction

SORTBY in WPS is a spreadsheet function for reordering data by one or more corresponding arrays; it includes 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	3	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	3	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index
Version scope	No version restriction	Available in WPS Spreadsheet on Windows

About This Feature

Overview

SORTBY is a built-in function in WPS Spreadsheet on Windows. It is used to sort an array or range based on one or more corresponding sort arrays, and it returns results dynamically in cells after the formula is entered.

Core capabilities include:

Enter the SORTBY function and view syntax prompts while building a formula.
Set sort arguments for common data organization and analysis tasks.
Use cross-sheet references and nested calculations, with results recalculated when source data changes.

It fits scenarios such as sales record sorting, score list organization, and task list prioritization.
It helps reduce repeated manual sorting and keeps results updated when referenced data changes.
Distinct: the function can be entered directly in the spreadsheet formula workflow and combined with other functions for dynamic results.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	No mandatory internet connection is required for local formula calculation
Other	You need to be able to open WPS Spreadsheet files and edit cell formulas

Download & Installation

Before using SORTBY, install WPS Office on your Windows device and make sure you can open a spreadsheet file.

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Check after installation	Open WPS Spreadsheet and type `=SORTBY(` in a cell to confirm that the function prompt appears

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Provides the SORTBY function in spreadsheet formula entry, supports dynamic sorting based on corresponding arrays, and supports cross-sheet references and nested calculations.	Excel provides the SORTBY function to sort the contents of a range or array based on values in a corresponding range or array.	Google Sheets provides the SORT function to sort rows in an array or range by one or more columns.	Notion supports sorting database views by properties to change display order, but this is a database view setting rather than a cell formula function.	Adobe Acrobat on the web supports sorting and searching cloud files for file management, not spreadsheet formula sorting.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: direct cell-based formula sorting in WPS Spreadsheet; Distinct: suitable for combining with other formulas for dynamic worksheet results.	Compared with WPS: Excel also offers a direct function-based sorting method for arrays and ranges.	Compared with WPS: Google uses the SORT function for row sorting, with a different function name and argument structure.	Compared with WPS: Notion sorting is view-level database organization rather than formula-driven worksheet output.	Compared with WPS: Adobe sorting is focused on file lists in cloud storage rather than spreadsheet calculations.
Official Source	—	SORTBY function	SORT function	Views, filters, sorts & groups	Sort and search files in Acrobat on the web

Overall Conclusion
If your main task is formula-based sorting and dynamic spreadsheet calculation, SORTBY in WPS fits that workflow directly. Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets also provide official sorting functions, while Notion and Adobe focus more on database view management or file management.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable Users	Core Pain Point	Solution
1	Sales data sorting	Sales teams, operations staff	Large record sets make repeated manual sorting inefficient	Use SORTBY to return sorted results by sales amount or date
2	Score list organization	Teachers, trainers	Score sheets need quick ranked output	Use SORTBY with the related column to sort in ascending or descending order
3	Task priority arrangement	Project managers, team members	Task order needs to change when status or priority changes	Use SORTBY on priority or date columns for dynamic ordering
4	Cross-sheet summary sorting	Finance staff, analysts	Data comes from multiple sheets and takes time to organize	Use cross-sheet references with SORTBY to output sorted results
5	Secondary processing of formula output	Advanced spreadsheet users	Sorted results still need filtering or additional calculation	Nest SORTBY with other functions

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free Users	WPS Premium
SORTBY function usage	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic spreadsheet editing	✅ Available	✅ Available
Additional PDF, template, and extended office benefits	Some features are limited	More benefits are available
Cloud storage	1 GB	20 GB

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Usage Scenario	Recommended Plan	Reason
Everyday spreadsheet sorting and basic formula work	Free	SORTBY itself is available directly for routine data organization
More cloud storage and broader office benefits	WPS Premium	Suitable if you also need more advanced office benefits beyond basic spreadsheet work

WPS membership center: Subscribe now