Even huge datasets stay manageable
Filtering and sorting let you pull out exactly the rows you need, or reorder hundreds or thousands of rows by any criteria you choose, which is one of the biggest everyday productivity wins Excel offers.
Always sort with the full table selected
Sorting by only one column instead of the entire table is the single most common way spreadsheet data gets scrambled -- rows can end up mismatched between columns. Always select the entire table before sorting.
Frequently Asked Questions
I sorted my data and now everything looks mismatched.
This usually happens when you select and sort just one column instead of the whole table, which shifts that column's values out of sync with the rest of each row. Always select the full table range before sorting.
Is data hidden by a filter deleted?
No -- a filter only hides rows from view temporarily. Clearing the filter brings every hidden row back exactly as it was.