Dynamic Sorting Table in Excel

Objective

To create a dynamic sorting table that automatically updates and sorts entries as new data is added.

Solution Overview

We will use the following Excel functionalities:

1. Excel Table: Convert your data range into a table.
2. SORT Function: Use the SORT function to arrange the data based on specified criteria.

Steps to Create a Dynamic Sorting Table

Step 1: Convert Data Range to an Excel Table

1. Select the data range (e.g., A1:B10).
2. Navigate to the Insert tab on the Ribbon.
3. Click on Table.
4. Ensure the "My table has headers" checkbox is selected and click OK.

Step 2: Use the SORT Function

To dynamically sort the entries, place the following formula in another range of your spreadsheet where you wish to display the sorted data.

Formula

=SORT(Table1, 1, TRUE)

Where:

• Table1 is the name of your Excel table (adjust accordingly).
• 1 indicates the first column in the table to sort by (modify for different columns).
• TRUE specifies ascending order; use FALSE for descending order.

Formula Explanation

• SORT Function: This function returns the sorted array from the specified range/table.
  • First Argument (Table1): The array to sort. This is pointing to the entire table you've created.
  • Second Argument (1): Column index based on which the sorting will take place. Use 2 for sorting by the second column, and so forth.
  • Third Argument (TRUE): Determines the sort order (ascending if TRUE, descending if FALSE).

Key Points

• The SORT function dynamically updates whenever you add new data to the Excel Table.
• You can change the column index in the formula to sort by different columns as needed.

Practical Example

Assuming you have the following data in an Excel Table named SalesData:

Sorted Display

To create a dynamically sorted display based on the Amount in ascending order, you would use the following formula:

=SORT(SalesData, 2, TRUE)

This will return:

Conclusion

By setting up an Excel Table and utilizing the SORT function, you can create a dynamic sorting table that automatically reflects updates and sorts your dataset in real-time. For further proficiency in data analysis techniques, consider exploring resources available on the Enterprise DNA Platform.