If you’re like me, you use Excel for tables because that platform makes it easy to sort your data by any column (or combination of columns). But sometimes a table is only part of the story, and Word has better flexibility with adding text and images. Until recently, I thought using Word for tables meant I would be unable to sort columns. Thanks to Tech-Talk, I learned otherwise!
What Is Table Sorting?
First, for those who haven’t had much experience sorting tables, let me show you what I mean.
In this Excel example, assume the data was entered from a disorganized pile of orders. Using the sort feature, you can put the entries in order based on one of the columns. In this case, it is the order date, but text fields can also be sorted alphabetically.
This can be very handy whether you are sorting a list of names or putting donors in order by the amount of their donation. Or, it can be helpful if you want to group items with the same value. I’m sure you can think of many situations where sorting a table would be handy.
Microsoft Word Tables
While Excel is based on a table format and is meant to manipulate table data, Word is a flexible application that allows the insertion of text, media, and tables. Tables in Word can be sorted by number, date, or text.
To sort a table in Word, click on the table to select it. In the top menu, select, “Layout.” Look for the “Data” section and select “Sort.”
Then select the column to sort by. If your column doesn’t have headings, they will be labeled “column 1, column 2, etc.”
Choose to sort by date, number, or text. Then select to sort ascending or descending. In the “Using” section, select “Paragraphs.”
If you have a header row, be sure to indicate that, or the header row will be sorted with the rest of the data.
Learn More
If you would like to learn how to sort by more than one column, or how to sort tables in Google Docs, this Tech-Talk article and video does a deep dive into table sorting. Want to learn more about Microsoft Word? See our Tech Tips articles, as well as articles, videos, and webinars by Tech-Talk.
