Sorting a table

See more on how to create and work with tables in Word.

To sort a table, follow these steps:

   1.   Click on the table to select it.

   2.   On the Table Layout tab, in the Data group, click the Sort button:

   3.   In the Sort dialog box:

• In the Sort by area, set up the first sort column:
  
  • Choose the appropriate column heading in the left drop-down list. If the table doesn't have column headings, the drop-down list shows Column 1, Column 2, and so on.
  • In the Type drop-down list, choose the type of sort:
    • Text to sort normally
    • Number to sort by numbers
    • Date to sort by dates and times.
  • In the Using drop-down list, make sure the Paragraphs option is selected.
  • On the right side:
    • Select the Ascending option button if you want an ascending sort (A to Z, low numbers to high, early dates and times to later ones),
    • Select the Descending option button if you want a reverse sort (Z to A, high numbers to low, later dates, and times to early ones).

• In the upper Then by area, set up the second sort column using the same techniques.
• In the lower Then by area, set up the third sort column using the same techniques.
• In the My list has area, make sure the Header row option button is selected if your table has a header row. If not, select the No header row option button.
• If you need to make the sorting case-sensitive, so that lowercase letters appear before their uppercase equivalents, click the Options... button to display the Sort Options dialog window:
  

  Select the Case sensitive checkbox, and click the OK button to close the dialog window.

See also this tip in French: Comment trier une table.