Excel is a powerful tool that can help you organize, analyze, and track data effectively. Sorting data is an essential feature that allows you to arrange information in a specific order. In this article, we will discuss 3 ways to sort by color in Excel.

1) Sorting by color using the filter option

The filter option is a built-in feature in Excel that can help you sort data by color. Here are the steps to sort by color using the filter option:

Step 1: Highlight the column that contains the colored data.

Step 2: Click on the filter button in the Data tab.

Step 3: Click on the drop-down arrow next to the column header.

Step 4: Select the “Filter by Color” option and choose the color you want to sort by.

Step 5: Click OK, and your data will be sorted by color.

2) Sorting by color using conditional formatting

Conditional formatting is another useful feature that can help you sort data by color. Here are the steps to sort by color using conditional formatting:

Step 1: Highlight the range of cells you want to sort by color.

Step 2: Click on the Conditional Formatting button in the Home tab.

Step 3: Select “New Rule” and choose “Use a formula to determine which cells to format.”

Step 4: Enter the formula =$B2=color, where “B” is the column letter, “2” is the starting row, and “color” is the color you want to sort by.

Step 5: Choose the fill color you want to highlight and click OK.

Step 6: Your data will be sorted by color.

3) Sorting by color using a macro

If you frequently sort data by color, you may want to use a macro to automate the process. Here are the steps to sort by color using a macro:

Step 1: Press Alt+F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.

Step 2: Click on “Insert” from the menu and select “Module.”

Step 3: Copy and paste the following code into the module:

Sub SortByColor()

Dim rng As Range

Set rng = Selection

rng.Sort Key1:=rng.Cells(1, 1), Order1:=xlAscending, Header:=xlYes, _

SortOn:=xlSortOnCellColor, DataOption1:=xlSortNormal

End Sub

Step 4: Save the macro and exit the Visual Basic Editor.

Step 5: Highlight the range of cells you want to sort by color and run the macro.

Step 6: Your data will be sorted by color.

In conclusion, sorting data in Excel can be a time-consuming task. However, by using the filter option, conditional formatting, or a macro, you can quickly sort data by color in just a few clicks. These methods will help you visualize and analyze your data effectively.