Sorting and Filtering

Abstract

To make the data in your spreadsheet easier to work with, you may need to display the data in a particular order or view only those records that meet specified conditions. Sorting and filtering are the most basic types of analysis carried out on data, and Excel 2007 has built on the functionality of previous versions to allow you to carry out more complex sorting and filtering. This includes revising these tools to accommodate the new sophisticated conditional formats described in Chapter 4, such as the ability to sort and filter by cell color or cell icon. Excel 2007 has also expanded the sorting and filtering features to make them more versatile, in particular making it easier to sort and filter by multiple items. This chapter will look at how you can use sorting and filtering to display the data you require, arranged in the order you want to view it. It will also introduce you to Advanced Filtering in Excel, a powerful tool that is worth understanding if you need to create more sophisticated filters to sift through your data.