When it comes to managing and analyzing data in Google Sheets, one of the most common tasks is to sort data by a specific column. Whether you’re trying to organize a list of numbers, dates, or text, being able to sort your data quickly and efficiently is crucial for making sense of your information. In this article, we’ll explore how to sort Google Sheets column by number, including the different methods and techniques you can use to get the job done.
Why Sort Google Sheets Column by Number?
Sorting your Google Sheets column by number is an essential step in data analysis and management. By organizing your data in a logical and structured way, you can quickly identify patterns, trends, and correlations that might be difficult to spot otherwise. Whether you’re trying to track sales figures, monitor website traffic, or analyze customer behavior, being able to sort your data by number is a crucial skill to have in your toolkit.
Method 1: Using the Sort Feature
The easiest way to sort a Google Sheets column by number is to use the built-in sort feature. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
- Go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort range.”
- In the “Sort range” dialog box, select the column you want to sort by from the “Sort by” dropdown menu.
- Choose the sorting order you want to apply (e.g., “Ascending” or “Descending”).
- Click “Sort” to apply the sort.
Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + S” (Windows) or “Cmd + Shift + S” (Mac) to open the “Sort range” dialog box.
Sorting Multiple Columns
If you want to sort multiple columns, you can do so by selecting multiple columns in the “Sort by” dropdown menu. For example, if you want to sort by both the “Price” and “Quantity” columns, you can select both columns in the dropdown menu and choose the sorting order for each column separately.
Sorting by Multiple Columns with Different Sorting Orders
If you want to sort by multiple columns, but with different sorting orders, you can do so by using the “Sort by” dropdown menu and selecting the columns in the order you want to sort them. For example, if you want to sort by “Price” in ascending order and then by “Quantity” in descending order, you can select the “Price” column first and then the “Quantity” column, and choose the sorting order for each column separately.
Method 2: Using the Filter Feature
Another way to sort a Google Sheets column by number is to use the filter feature. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to filter.
- Go to the “Data” menu and select “Filter views.”
- In the “Filter views” dialog box, select the column you want to filter by from the “Filter by” dropdown menu.
- Choose the filtering criteria you want to apply (e.g., “Greater than” or “Less than”).
- Enter the value you want to filter by in the “Value” field.
- Click “Apply” to apply the filter.
Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + F” (Windows) or “Cmd + Shift + F” (Mac) to open the “Filter views” dialog box.
Filtering by Multiple Columns
If you want to filter multiple columns, you can do so by selecting multiple columns in the “Filter by” dropdown menu. For example, if you want to filter by both the “Price” and “Quantity” columns, you can select both columns in the dropdown menu and choose the filtering criteria for each column separately. (See Also: How to Create a Schedule in Google Sheets? Easy Step Guide)
Filtering by Multiple Columns with Different Filtering Criteria
If you want to filter by multiple columns, but with different filtering criteria, you can do so by using the “Filter by” dropdown menu and selecting the columns in the order you want to filter them. For example, if you want to filter by “Price” with a value greater than 10 and then by “Quantity” with a value less than 5, you can select the “Price” column first and then the “Quantity” column, and choose the filtering criteria for each column separately.
Method 3: Using a Formula
Another way to sort a Google Sheets column by number is to use a formula. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
- Enter the following formula in a new cell: `=SORT(A:A, 1, TRUE)`
- Replace “A:A” with the range of cells you want to sort.
- Replace “1” with the column number you want to sort by.
- Replace “TRUE” with the sorting order you want to apply (e.g., “Ascending” or “Descending”).
- Press “Enter” to apply the formula.
This formula will sort the range of cells by the first column in ascending order. You can modify the formula to sort by a different column or with a different sorting order by changing the values in the formula.
Sorting by Multiple Columns with a Formula
If you want to sort by multiple columns using a formula, you can do so by using the `SORT` function multiple times. For example, if you want to sort by both the “Price” and “Quantity” columns, you can use the following formula:
=SORT(SORT(A:A, 1, TRUE), 2, TRUE)
This formula will sort the range of cells by the first column (Price) in ascending order, and then by the second column (Quantity) in ascending order.
Sorting by Multiple Columns with Different Sorting Orders with a Formula
If you want to sort by multiple columns with different sorting orders using a formula, you can do so by using the `SORT` function multiple times and specifying the sorting order for each column separately. For example, if you want to sort by “Price” in ascending order and then by “Quantity” in descending order, you can use the following formula:
=SORT(SORT(A:A, 1, TRUE), 2, FALSE)
This formula will sort the range of cells by the first column (Price) in ascending order, and then by the second column (Quantity) in descending order.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored three different methods for sorting a Google Sheets column by number. Whether you’re using the built-in sort feature, the filter feature, or a formula, there’s a method that’s right for you. By following these steps and tips, you’ll be able to quickly and easily sort your Google Sheets data by number, and make sense of your information in no time. (See Also: How Do I Search on Google Sheets? Mastering The Basics)
Recap
In this article, we’ve covered the following methods for sorting a Google Sheets column by number:
- Method 1: Using the Sort Feature
- Method 2: Using the Filter Feature
- Method 3: Using a Formula
We’ve also covered some advanced topics, including sorting by multiple columns and sorting by multiple columns with different sorting orders. By mastering these techniques, you’ll be able to get the most out of your Google Sheets data and make informed decisions with confidence.
FAQs
Q: How do I sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a text format?
A: To sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a text format, you can use the `=TEXTTONUMBER` function to convert the text numbers to numerical values. For example, if you want to sort a column of text numbers in ascending order, you can use the following formula:
=TEXTTONUMBER(A:A)
This formula will convert the text numbers in column A to numerical values, and then sort the column in ascending order.
Q: How do I sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a date format?
A: To sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a date format, you can use the `=DATE` function to convert the dates to numerical values. For example, if you want to sort a column of dates in ascending order, you can use the following formula:
=DATE(A:A)
This formula will convert the dates in column A to numerical values, and then sort the column in ascending order.
Q: How do I sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a time format?
A: To sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a time format, you can use the `=TIME` function to convert the times to numerical values. For example, if you want to sort a column of times in ascending order, you can use the following formula:
=TIME(A:A)
This formula will convert the times in column A to numerical values, and then sort the column in ascending order.
Q: How do I sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a text format with commas?
A: To sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a text format with commas, you can use the `=SUBSTITUTE` function to remove the commas from the text numbers. For example, if you want to sort a column of text numbers with commas in ascending order, you can use the following formula:
=SUBSTITUTE(A:A, ",", "")
This formula will remove the commas from the text numbers in column A, and then sort the column in ascending order.
Q: How do I sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a text format with decimal points?
A: To sort a Google Sheets column by number if the numbers are in a text format with decimal points, you can use the `=SUBSTITUTE` function to remove the decimal points from the text numbers. For example, if you want to sort a column of text numbers with decimal points in ascending order, you can use the following formula:
=SUBSTITUTE(A:A, ".", "")
This formula will remove the decimal points from the text numbers in column A, and then sort the column in ascending order.