Sorting by multiple columns in Google Sheets is a crucial skill for anyone who works with data in Google Sheets. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, a business owner, or an analyst, you’ll likely encounter situations where you need to sort data based on multiple criteria. This might be to analyze sales data by region and product, to organize student grades by class and name, or to compare customer data by age and location. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different methods for sorting by multiple columns in Google Sheets, including using the SORT function, the SORTN function, and the Data > Sort sheet menu.
Sorting by multiple columns is an essential skill in data analysis and management. It allows you to quickly and easily organize your data to identify trends, patterns, and insights. With the ability to sort by multiple columns, you can make informed decisions, identify areas for improvement, and optimize your business processes. In this post, we’ll cover the different methods for sorting by multiple columns in Google Sheets, including the SORT function, the SORTN function, and the Data > Sort sheet menu.
Method 1: Using the SORT Function
The SORT function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to sort a range of cells based on one or more criteria. The syntax for the SORT function is as follows:
SORT(range, [sort_order_1], [sort_order_2], …) [sort_order_n]
Where:
- range: The range of cells to be sorted.
- sort_order_1: The first column to sort by.
- sort_order_2: The second column to sort by.
- sort_order_n: The nth column to sort by.
For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) and then by the second column (B), you would use the following formula:
SORT(A2:B10, 1, 2)
This will sort the range A2:B10 by the first column (A) in ascending order, and then by the second column (B) in ascending order.
Sorting in Ascending or Descending Order
When using the SORT function, you can specify whether to sort in ascending or descending order. To sort in ascending order, you can use the following syntax:
SORT(range, [sort_order_1], [sort_order_2], …) [sort_order_n] TRUE
To sort in descending order, you can use the following syntax:
SORT(range, [sort_order_1], [sort_order_2], …) [sort_order_n] FALSE
For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) in descending order, you would use the following formula: (See Also: How to Sort Highlighted Cells in Google Sheets? Easily)
SORT(A2:B10, 1, TRUE)
Sorting Multiple Columns with the SORT Function
When sorting multiple columns with the SORT function, you can specify multiple sort orders. For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) and then by the second column (B) and then by the third column (C), you would use the following formula:
SORT(A2:C10, 1, 2, 3)
This will sort the range A2:C10 by the first column (A) in ascending order, then by the second column (B) in ascending order, and finally by the third column (C) in ascending order.
Using the SORT Function with Multiple Criteria
When using the SORT function with multiple criteria, you can specify multiple sort orders. For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) and then by the second column (B) and then by the third column (C), you would use the following formula:
SORT(A2:C10, 1, 2, 3)
This will sort the range A2:C10 by the first column (A) in ascending order, then by the second column (B) in ascending order, and finally by the third column (C) in ascending order.
Method 2: Using the SORTN Function
The SORTN function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to sort a range of cells based on one or more criteria. The syntax for the SORTN function is as follows:
SORTN(range, n, [sort_order_1], [sort_order_2], …) [sort_order_n]
Where:
- range: The range of cells to be sorted.
- n: The number of rows to return.
- sort_order_1: The first column to sort by.
- sort_order_2: The second column to sort by.
- sort_order_n: The nth column to sort by.
For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) and then by the second column (B) and return the top 10 rows, you would use the following formula:
SORTN(A2:B10, 10, 1, 2) (See Also: How to Access Pivot Table Editor in Google Sheets? Mastering Insights)
This will sort the range A2:B10 by the first column (A) in ascending order, then by the second column (B) in ascending order, and return the top 10 rows.
Sorting in Ascending or Descending Order with the SORTN Function
When using the SORTN function, you can specify whether to sort in ascending or descending order. To sort in ascending order, you can use the following syntax:
SORTN(range, n, [sort_order_1], [sort_order_2], …) [sort_order_n] TRUE
To sort in descending order, you can use the following syntax:
SORTN(range, n, [sort_order_1], [sort_order_2], …) [sort_order_n] FALSE
For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) in descending order and return the top 10 rows, you would use the following formula:
SORTN(A2:B10, 10, 1, TRUE)
Sorting Multiple Columns with the SORTN Function
When sorting multiple columns with the SORTN function, you can specify multiple sort orders. For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) and then by the second column (B) and then by the third column (C) and return the top 10 rows, you would use the following formula:
SORTN(A2:C10, 10, 1, 2, 3)
This will sort the range A2:C10 by the first column (A) in ascending order, then by the second column (B) in ascending order, and finally by the third column (C) in ascending order, and return the top 10 rows.
Method 3: Using the Data > Sort Sheet Menu
The Data > Sort sheet menu is a quick and easy way to sort data in Google Sheets. To sort data using the Data > Sort sheet menu, follow these steps:
- Select the range of cells you want to sort.
- Go to the Data menu and select Sort.
- In the Sort dialog box, select the column you want to sort by.
- Select the sort order (ascending or descending).
- Click OK.
For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) in ascending order, follow these steps:
- Select the range A2:B10.
- Go to the Data menu and select Sort.
- In the Sort dialog box, select the column A.
- Select the sort order (ascending).
- Click OK.
Sorting Multiple Columns with the Data > Sort Sheet Menu
When sorting multiple columns with the Data > Sort sheet menu, you can select multiple columns to sort by. For example, to sort a range of cells by the first column (A) and then by the second column (B) in ascending order, follow these steps:
- Select the range A2:C10.
- Go to the Data menu and select Sort.
- In the Sort dialog box, select the column A.
- Select the sort order (ascending).
- Click Add another sort column.
- Select the column B.
- Click OK.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we’ve explored the different methods for sorting by multiple columns in Google Sheets, including using the SORT function, the SORTN function, and the Data > Sort sheet menu. We’ve also covered how to sort in ascending or descending order, and how to sort multiple columns. By following the steps outlined in this post, you should be able to sort your data quickly and easily, and make informed decisions based on your data.
Recap
Here’s a recap of the key points covered in this post:
- The SORT function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to sort a range of cells based on one or more criteria.
- The SORTN function is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to sort a range of cells based on one or more criteria and return a specified number of rows.
- The Data > Sort sheet menu is a quick and easy way to sort data in Google Sheets.
- You can sort multiple columns with the SORT function, the SORTN function, and the Data > Sort sheet menu.
- You can sort in ascending or descending order with the SORT function, the SORTN function, and the Data > Sort sheet menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Sort by Multiple Columns in Google Sheets?
Q: How do I sort by multiple columns in Google Sheets?
A: You can sort by multiple columns in Google Sheets using the SORT function, the SORTN function, or the Data > Sort sheet menu. To sort by multiple columns, select the range of cells you want to sort, and then select the columns you want to sort by. You can also specify multiple sort orders by adding additional sort columns.
Q: How do I sort in ascending or descending order in Google Sheets?
A: You can sort in ascending or descending order in Google Sheets using the SORT function, the SORTN function, or the Data > Sort sheet menu. To sort in ascending order, select the sort order (ascending) in the Sort dialog box. To sort in descending order, select the sort order (descending) in the Sort dialog box.
Q: How do I sort multiple columns with the SORT function?
A: You can sort multiple columns with the SORT function by specifying multiple sort orders. To sort multiple columns, select the range of cells you want to sort, and then select the columns you want to sort by. You can also specify multiple sort orders by adding additional sort columns.
Q: How do I sort multiple columns with the SORTN function?
A: You can sort multiple columns with the SORTN function by specifying multiple sort orders. To sort multiple columns, select the range of cells you want to sort, and then select the columns you want to sort by. You can also specify multiple sort orders by adding additional sort columns.
Q: How do I sort multiple columns with the Data > Sort sheet menu?
A: You can sort multiple columns with the Data > Sort sheet menu by selecting multiple columns to sort by. To sort multiple columns, select the range of cells you want to sort, and then select the columns you want to sort by. You can also specify multiple sort orders by adding additional sort columns.