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Excel SORT Function

Excel SORT function
Summary 

The Excel SORT function sorts the contents of a range or array. Values can be sorted by one or more columns. SORT returns a dynamic array of results.

Purpose 
Sorts range or array
Return value 
Sorted array
Syntax 
=SORT (array, [sort_index], [sort_order], [by_col])
Arguments 
  • array - Range or array to sort.
  • sort_index - [optional] Column index to use for sorting. Default is 1.
  • sort_order - [optional] 1 = Ascending, -1 = Descending. Default is ascending order.
  • by_col - [optional] TRUE = sort by column. FALSE = sort by row. Default is FALSE.
Usage notes 

The Excel SORT function extracts and sorts a list of unique values from a range. The result is a dynamic array of values. If this array is the final result (i.e. not handed off to another function) array values will "spill" onto the worksheet into a range that automatically updates when new uniques values are added or removed from the source range, or when source values change.

By default, the SORT function will sort values in ascending order using the first column. Use the optional arguments sort_index and sort_order to control which column to sort by, by what order (ascending or descending).

Examples

In the example shown, data includes in column B and scores in column B. The SORT formula in E5 is:

=SORT(B5:C14,2) // sort by scores in ascending order

The SORT function extracts all values, sorted in ascending order by score, and results "spill" into the range E5:F14.

To sort by score in descending order, set sort_order to -1 in a formula like this:

=SORT(B5:C14,2,-1) // sort by scores in descending order
Note: This function is a new "Dynamic Array Function" in Excel. It is a beta feature available only through the Office Insiders program. Dynamic Array functions are expected to be released in 2019 to Office 365 subscribers.
Related functions 
Excel UNIQUE function
Excel UNIQUE Function
The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values in a list or range. Values can be text, numbers, dates, times, etc.
Excel FILTER function
Excel FILTER Function

The Excel FILTER function filters a range of data based on supplied criteria, and extracts matching records.

Excel SORT function
Excel SORT Function

The Excel SORT function sorts the contents of a range or array. Values can be sorted by one or more columns. SORT returns a dynamic array of results.

Excel SORTBY function
Excel SORTBY Function
The Excel SORTBY function sorts the contents of a range or array based on the values from another range or array. The range or array used to sort does not need to appear in results.
Excel SEQUENCE function
Excel SEQUENCE Function

The Excel SEQUENCE function generates a list of sequential numbers in an array. The array can be one dimensional, or two-dimensional. Start and step values are arguments.

Excel RANDARRAY function
Excel RANDARRAY Function

The Excel RANDARRAY function returns an array of random numbers between 0 and 1. The size or the array is determined by rows and columns arguments.

Excel SINGLE function
Excel SINGLE Function
The Excel SINGLE function returns a single value using implicit intersection. The SINGLE function is provided for backwards compatibility with implicit intersection formulas in earlier versions of Excel.
Good links 
Microsoft SORT function documentation

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