Sorting data in Google Sheets is an essential task for any user, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user. With the ability to sort data in ascending or descending order, you can easily organize your data to make it easier to analyze and understand. However, sorting two columns in Google Sheets can be a bit more complex than sorting a single column. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different methods you can use to sort two columns in Google Sheets, and provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Sorting two columns in Google Sheets is useful when you have data that requires comparison between two columns. For example, you might have a list of employees with their names and job titles, and you want to sort the list by job title and then by name. Or, you might have a list of products with their prices and categories, and you want to sort the list by category and then by price. Whatever your reason for sorting two columns, this blog post will provide you with the information you need to do it.
Method 1: Using the Sort Function
The first method we’ll explore is using the Sort function in Google Sheets. This function allows you to sort data in ascending or descending order, and you can specify multiple columns to sort by.
Step 1: Select the Data Range
To use the Sort function, you’ll need to select the data range that you want to sort. This can be a single column or multiple columns, depending on your needs.
For example, if you have a list of employees with their names and job titles, you might select the entire list, from A1 to E10.
Step 2: Open the Sort Dialog Box
To open the Sort dialog box, go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort range”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+S (Windows) or Command+Shift+S (Mac).
Step 3: Select the Sort Order
In the Sort dialog box, select the column that you want to sort by first. In our example, we’ll select the “Job Title” column.
Next, select the sort order that you want to use. You can choose to sort in ascending or descending order.
Step 4: Add Additional Sort Columns
To sort by multiple columns, click on the “Add another sort column” button and select the next column that you want to sort by.
For example, if you want to sort by job title and then by name, you would select the “Name” column as the second sort column.
Step 5: Apply the Sort
Once you’ve selected the sort columns and order, click on the “Sort” button to apply the sort.
Example:
Here’s an example of how to sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Sort function: (See Also: How to Calculate R Value in Google Sheets? Made Easy)
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | John Smith |
| Manager | Jane Doe |
| Engineer | Bob Johnson |
| Engineer | Mike Brown |
To sort this data by job title and then by name, you would select the “Job Title” column as the first sort column and the “Name” column as the second sort column. The sorted data would look like this:
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Engineer | Bob Johnson |
| Engineer | Mike Brown |
| Manager | John Smith |
| Manager | Jane Doe |
Method 2: Using the Sort and Filter Function
The second method we’ll explore is using the Sort and Filter function in Google Sheets. This function allows you to sort data in ascending or descending order, and you can specify multiple columns to sort by.
Step 1: Select the Data Range
To use the Sort and Filter function, you’ll need to select the data range that you want to sort. This can be a single column or multiple columns, depending on your needs.
For example, if you have a list of employees with their names and job titles, you might select the entire list, from A1 to E10.
Step 2: Open the Sort and Filter Dialog Box
To open the Sort and Filter dialog box, go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort and filter”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+F (Windows) or Command+Shift+F (Mac).
Step 3: Select the Sort Order
In the Sort and Filter dialog box, select the column that you want to sort by first. In our example, we’ll select the “Job Title” column.
Next, select the sort order that you want to use. You can choose to sort in ascending or descending order.
Step 4: Add Additional Sort Columns
To sort by multiple columns, click on the “Add another sort column” button and select the next column that you want to sort by.
For example, if you want to sort by job title and then by name, you would select the “Name” column as the second sort column.
Step 5: Apply the Sort and Filter
Once you’ve selected the sort columns and order, click on the “Sort and filter” button to apply the sort and filter.
Example:
Here’s an example of how to sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Sort and Filter function: (See Also: How Do I Multiply Cells in Google Sheets? A Simple Guide)
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | John Smith |
| Manager | Jane Doe |
| Engineer | Bob Johnson |
| Engineer | Mike Brown |
To sort this data by job title and then by name, you would select the “Job Title” column as the first sort column and the “Name” column as the second sort column. The sorted data would look like this:
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Engineer | Bob Johnson |
| Engineer | Mike Brown |
| Manager | John Smith |
| Manager | Jane Doe |
Method 3: Using the Conditional Formatting Function
The third method we’ll explore is using the Conditional Formatting function in Google Sheets. This function allows you to sort data in ascending or descending order, and you can specify multiple columns to sort by.
Step 1: Select the Data Range
To use the Conditional Formatting function, you’ll need to select the data range that you want to sort. This can be a single column or multiple columns, depending on your needs.
For example, if you have a list of employees with their names and job titles, you might select the entire list, from A1 to E10.
Step 2: Open the Conditional Formatting Dialog Box
To open the Conditional Formatting dialog box, go to the “Format” menu and select “Conditional formatting”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+F (Windows) or Command+Shift+F (Mac).
Step 3: Select the Sort Order
In the Conditional Formatting dialog box, select the column that you want to sort by first. In our example, we’ll select the “Job Title” column.
Next, select the sort order that you want to use. You can choose to sort in ascending or descending order.
Step 4: Add Additional Sort Columns
To sort by multiple columns, click on the “Add another sort column” button and select the next column that you want to sort by.
For example, if you want to sort by job title and then by name, you would select the “Name” column as the second sort column.
Step 5: Apply the Conditional Formatting
Once you’ve selected the sort columns and order, click on the “Format” button to apply the conditional formatting.
Example:
Here’s an example of how to sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Conditional Formatting function:
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | John Smith |
| Manager | Jane Doe |
| Engineer | Bob Johnson |
| Engineer | Mike Brown |
To sort this data by job title and then by name, you would select the “Job Title” column as the first sort column and the “Name” column as the second sort column. The sorted data would look like this:
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Engineer | Bob Johnson |
| Engineer | Mike Brown |
| Manager | John Smith |
| Manager | Jane Doe |
Recap
In this blog post, we’ve explored three different methods for sorting two columns in Google Sheets: using the Sort function, using the Sort and Filter function, and using the Conditional Formatting function. We’ve also provided step-by-step guides for each method, along with examples to help illustrate the process.
Sorting data in Google Sheets is an essential task for any user, and being able to sort two columns can be a powerful tool for analyzing and understanding your data. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, we hope this blog post has provided you with the information you need to sort two columns in Google Sheets.
FAQs
Q: How do I sort two columns in Google Sheets?
A: There are three different methods for sorting two columns in Google Sheets: using the Sort function, using the Sort and Filter function, and using the Conditional Formatting function. Each method has its own steps and requirements, but all three methods can be used to sort two columns.
Q: Can I sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Sort function?
A: Yes, you can sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Sort function. To do this, select the data range that you want to sort, go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort range”, and then select the columns that you want to sort by.
Q: Can I sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Sort and Filter function?
A: Yes, you can sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Sort and Filter function. To do this, select the data range that you want to sort, go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort and filter”, and then select the columns that you want to sort by.
Q: Can I sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Conditional Formatting function?
A: Yes, you can sort two columns in Google Sheets using the Conditional Formatting function. To do this, select the data range that you want to sort, go to the “Format” menu and select “Conditional formatting”, and then select the columns that you want to sort by.
Q: How do I apply the sort to multiple columns?
A: To apply the sort to multiple columns, select the columns that you want to sort by and then click on the “Add another sort column” button. This will allow you to select additional columns to sort by.