Do you have large amounts of data in an Excel sheet and need to sort it by date? You may be tempted to give up and take a lot of time manually sorting it but don’t despair! In this article, we will discuss how to easily and quickly sort an Excel sheet by date and save yourself a lot of time. With the right approach, you can quickly organize and find the exact data you need in a fraction of the time. So, let’s get started!

How to Sort Excel Sheet by Date?

Sorting Date Columns in Excel

Sorting data in an Excel spreadsheet by date is a simple task that can be done in a few steps. The most common way to sort your data is to use the ‘Sort’ option found in the ‘Data’ tab in Excel. This option allows you to sort your data by a single column or multiple columns. In order to sort your data by date, you must first select the date column that you want to sort. You can do this by clicking on the header for that column.

Once you have selected the date column, you can then click on the ‘Sort’ option in the ‘Data’ tab. This will open up a dialog box where you can select how you want to sort your data. You can select the option to sort your data by date in either ascending or descending order. If you want to sort multiple columns, you can select the ‘Sort by’ option and select the columns you want to sort by.

When you have selected the sorting criteria, you can click on the ‘OK’ button to apply the sort. Your data will then be sorted by date. You can also use the ‘Filter’ option in the ‘Data’ tab to further filter your data by date. This can be useful if you are looking to find specific data within a certain range of dates.

Formatting Date Columns in Excel

In order for your data to be sorted correctly, it is important to make sure that the dates are formatted correctly. The most common way to format dates in Excel is to use the ‘Long Date’ format. This format displays dates in the format of day, month, and year. For example, a date formatted as ‘4/15/2020’ would be displayed as ‘Wednesday, April 15, 2020’.

In order to make sure that your dates are formatted correctly, you must first select the date column that you want to format. You can do this by clicking on the header for that column. Once you have selected the date column, you can click on the ‘Format Cells’ option in the ‘Home’ tab. This will open up a dialog box where you can select the ‘Long Date’ format. You can then click on the ‘OK’ button to apply the format to your data.

Once you have formatted your data correctly, you can then sort your data by date. This will ensure that your data is sorted correctly and that you are able to find the data you are looking for.

Troubleshooting Date Sorting Issues in Excel

If you are having trouble sorting your data by date, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that your data is formatted correctly. If you are using the ‘Long Date’ format, make sure that the dates are displayed in the correct format. For example, a date formatted as ‘4/15/2020’ should be displayed as ‘Wednesday, April 15, 2020’.

You can also try sorting your data by a different column. If you are having trouble sorting your data by date, you can try sorting it by name or by another column. This may help you to find the data you are looking for.

Finally, if you are still having trouble sorting your data, you can try using the ‘Filter’ option in the ‘Data’ tab. This option allows you to filter your data by date, which may help you find the data you are looking for.

Conclusion

Sorting Excel data by date is a simple task that can be done in a few steps. In order to sort your data correctly, it is important to make sure that the dates are formatted correctly. You can also use the ‘Filter’ option in the ‘Data’ tab to further filter your data by date. If you are still having trouble sorting your data, you can try using a different column or using the ‘Filter’ option.

Few Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the easiest way to sort an excel sheet by date?

A1. The easiest way to sort an Excel sheet by date is to click the Sort & Filter button in the Home tab. From there, select either Sort Oldest to Newest or Sort Newest to Oldest depending on the order you want to sort the sheet. Additionally, you can click the arrow next to the column heading you want to sort by and select Sort Oldest to Newest or Sort Newest to Oldest.

Q2. What happens if my spreadsheet has multiple columns of dates?

A2. If your spreadsheet has multiple columns of dates, you can sort the data by multiple columns at once. To do this, click on the Sort & Filter button in the Home tab and select Custom Sort. From the Custom Sort window, you can add additional columns to sort by and specify the sort order for each column.

Q3. How do I sort my data by month and year?

A3. To sort your data by month and year, you will need to first format the cells containing the dates as “Month-Year” or “Year-Month”. To do this, select the cells containing the dates, right click, and select Format Cells. From the Number tab, select Custom and enter either “MMM-YYYY” or “YYYY-MMM” as the type. Once the cells have been formatted appropriately, you can click the Sort & Filter button in the Home tab and select either Sort Oldest to Newest or Sort Newest to Oldest.

Q4. How do I sort my data by year only?

A4. To sort your data by year only, you will need to first format the cells containing the dates as “Year-Month”. To do this, select the cells containing the dates, right click, and select Format Cells. From the Number tab, select Custom and enter “YYYY-MMM” as the type. Once the cells have been formatted appropriately, you can click the Sort & Filter button in the Home tab and select either Sort Oldest to Newest or Sort Newest to Oldest.

Q5. How can I filter my data by date?

A5. To filter your data by date, click the Sort & Filter button in the Home tab and select Filter. From the filter menu, select the date column and select the date range you wish to filter by. You can also select specific dates, months, quarters, or years to filter by.

Q6. Can I sort my data by multiple columns at once?

A6. Yes, you can sort your data by multiple columns at once. To do this, click on the Sort & Filter button in the Home tab and select Custom Sort. From the Custom Sort window, you can add additional columns to sort by and specify the sort order for each column. You can also add up to three levels of sorting, allowing you to sort by multiple columns in one step.

How to sort by date in Microsoft excel

In conclusion, sorting Excel Sheet by date is a simple and effective way to organize data quickly. By using the Sort feature, you can easily sort your data based on the date column and have it displayed in an organized manner. With the right knowledge and understanding, you can become a master at sorting your Excel Sheet by date and make your data easier to view and analyze.