Excel like a finance pro.
← The libraryPractice · 2 questions →
Data shortcut
Open the Sort dialog
Alt, A, S, S on Windows, None on Mac.
OccasionalDifficulty 1050 · Capable
When to use it
Opens the Sort dialog for multi-level sorts with headers, custom orders, and sort by color.
The shape of it
- Windows
Alt, A, S, S
- Mac
None
Worked examples
Two-level sort
Click inside the data, Alt, A, S, S, add levels Region then Sales descending → Sorted by region, then by sales within region
Multi-key sort.
Custom order
Sort by a custom list (Jan, Feb, …) → Months in calendar order
Custom orders.
Sort columns
Options, Sort left to right → Columns reordered
Horizontal sort.
Worth knowing
- Check "My data has headers" or the header gets sorted into the data.
- Select the whole region first or only part gets sorted.
- SORT and SORTBY do it as live formulas.
Where it goes wrong
- Sorting a partial selection scrambles rows; Undo immediately.
- Merged cells block sorting.
Related
Learn the moves here — or let Wauvel run them on your numbers.
Meet your AI CFO →One CFO-grade Excel tip a week
A short, practical email for finance operators — functions, shortcuts, and the moves that save an afternoon. Free, unsubscribe anytime.