How to Sort by Date in Excel
Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for managing and organizing data. It is a great software for businesses and individuals to keep track of their records, sales, and financial transactions. One of the most important features of Excel is the ability to sort data. Sorting data makes it easier to analyze and find relevant information. Excel allows users to sort data in various ways. In this article, we will discuss how to sort by date in Excel.
Step 1 – Select the Data Range:
Before sorting the data by date, you need to select the data range. To select the data range, first, click anywhere in the range. Hold the left mouse button as you drag the cursor over the range. Release the mouse button once the range is selected.
Step 2 – Click on Sort Button:
Once you have selected the data range, click on the “Sort” button located on the “Home” tab of the ribbon. This button is indicated by the AZ icon. Clicking the sort button will open a new dialog box.
Step 3 – Choose the Column / Field:
The sort dialog box displays a list of columns or fields in your data range. You need to choose the column or field that contains the date information. Select the column by clicking on the heading.
Step 4 – Choose the Order:
You need to choose the order in which you want to sort the data. You can choose either ascending or descending order. Ascending order sorts the data from the oldest date to the latest date, while descending order sorts the data from the latest date to the oldest date.
Step 5 – Choose the Sort Type:
Excel offers three types of sorting methods: “Values,” “Cell Color,” and “Font Color.” As we are interested in sorting by date, we need to choose the “Values” sorting method.
Step 6 – Click OK:
After making the above selections, click the “OK” button to sort the data by the selected date column. Excel will then sort the data and display the result in your worksheet.