Sort a range from A to Z [Array formula]
Question: How do I sort a range alphabetically using excel array formula?
Answer:
Cell range $B$2:$E$5 contains text values in random order, the formula in cell B8 extracts values sorted from A to Z.
Array formula in B8:
Filter unique distinct values sorted from A to Z with no blanks from a multi-column and multi-row cell range:
Extract unique distinct values A to Z from a range and ignore blanks
This is an answer to a question in this blog post: Extract a unique distinct list sorted from A-Z from […]
Extract unique distinct values A to Z from a range and ignore blanks
How to enter an array formula
- Double press with left mouse button on cell B8
- Copy an paste above formula
- Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously
- Press Enter once
Learn how to filter unique distinct values from a multi-column and multi-row cell range:
Extract unique distinct values from a multi-column cell range
Question: I have cell values spanning over several columns and I want to create a unique list from that range. […]
Extract unique distinct values from a multi-column cell range
How to implement array formula to your workbook
If your list starts at, for example, F2. Change $B$8:B8 in the above formula to F2:$F$2.
The following article demonstrates how to filter a unique distinct list sorted from A to Z, from a multi-column and multi-row cell range:
Extract a unique distinct list sorted from A-Z from range
The image above shows an array formula in cell B8 that extracts unique distinct values sorted alphabetically from cell range […]
Extract a unique distinct list sorted from A-Z from range
How to copy array formula
Copy cell B8 and paste to cells below.
How to filter duplicate values from a multi-column and multi-row cell range:
Extract duplicates from a range
The following array formula in cell B11 extracts duplicates from cell range B3:E8, only one instance of each duplicate is […]
Extract duplicates from a range
Explaining formula in cell B8
Step 1 - Rank values based on their relative position if they were sorted
The COUNTIF function counts cells based on a condition, however, in this case, I am using a cell range instead of a single cell in the second argument.
Also, the ampersand & concatenates each value with a less than sign. This makes the COUNTIF function compare each value against the others, the number returned represents the corresponding values position if the list were sorted.
COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5)
returns {1, 10, 13, 8; 6, 15, 0, 11; 12, 7, 9, 3; 14, 4, 5, 1}.
The image above shows the array in cell range B7:E10, "Apple" is 0 (zero) which is the first position if the list were sorted.
Step 2 - Extract the k-th smallest value in array
The SMALL function lets you get the k-th smallest value from a cell range or array.
SMALL(array, k)
SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROWS($B$8:B8))
The ROWS function allows you to keep track of the number of cells, the cell reference is expanding as we copy the formula and paste to cells below.
SMALL({1, 10, 13, 8; 6, 15, 0, 11; 12, 7, 9, 3; 14, 4, 5, 1}, ROWS($B$8:B8))
becomes
SMALL({1, 10, 13, 8; 6, 15, 0, 11; 12, 7, 9, 3; 14, 4, 5, 1}, 1) and returns 0 (zero).
Step 3 - Compare value to array
The logical expression in the following IF function determines if the value of the position corresponding to the k-th smallest value will be a row number or FALSE.
IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)
becomes
IF(0=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)
becomes
IF(0={1, 10, 13, 8; 6, 15, 0, 11; 12, 7, 9, 3; 14, 4, 5, 1}, ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)
becomes
IF({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE}, ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)
becomes
IF({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE}, {1;2;3;4})
and returns {FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, 2, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE}.
Step 4 - Extract the smallest number from array
The MIN function ignores boolean values TRUE and FALSE.
MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1))
becomes
MIN({FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, 2, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE;FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE})
and returns 2. We now know that the first value to be extracted is located on row 2 relative to cell range $B$2:$E$5.
Step 5 - Find column
In this case, the MATCH function returns the relative position horizontally of the value we are looking for.
MATCH(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROWS($B$8:B8)),COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5,MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)),,1)),0)
becomes
MATCH(SMALL({1, 10, 13, 8; 6, 15, 0, 11; 12, 7, 9, 3; 14, 4, 5, 1},ROWS($B$8:B8)),COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5,MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)),,1)),0)
becomes
MATCH(SMALL({1, 10, 13, 8; 6, 15, 0, 11; 12, 7, 9, 3; 14, 4, 5, 1},1),COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5,MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)),,1)),0)
becomes
MATCH(0,COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5,MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)),,1)),0)
I will be using the INDEX function to extract the values we need based on a row number.
MATCH(0,COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5,MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&$B$2:$E$5),ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)),,1)),0)
becomes
MATCH(0,COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5,2,,1)),0)
becomes
MATCH(0,COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5,"<"&B3:E3),0)
becomes
MATCH(0,{6,15,0,11},0)
and returns 3. The value we are looking for is in column 3 relative to cell range $B$2:$E$5.
Step 6 - Return value based on row and column
INDEX($B$2:$E$5, MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)), MATCH(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROWS($B$8:B8)), COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&INDEX($B$2:$E$5, MIN(IF(SMALL(COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROWS($B$8:B8))=COUNTIF($B$2:$E$5, "<"&$B$2:$E$5), ROW($B$2:$E$5)-MIN(ROW($B$2:$E$5))+1)), , 1)), 0))
becomes
INDEX($B$2:$E$5, 2, 3)
and returns "Apple" in cell B8.
Get Excel *.xlsx file
This post shows you how to filter a multi-column and multi-row cell range based on frequency:
Sort a range based on value frequency
The formula in cell B8 extracts a list sorted based on frequency. Array formula in B8: =TEXTJOIN("", TRUE, IF(MIN(IF((MAX(IF(COUNTIF($B$7:B7, $B$2:$E$5)=0, […]
Sort a range based on value frequency
Recommended article
A beginners guide to Excel array formulas
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A beginners guide to Excel array formulas
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[…] = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Hi, I'm working on a simple macro that would insert a simple sorting formula depending on the user selection. I took few lines of code to call a form enabling the range […]
Hi, What if I want to sort alphabetically from B2 to E5 and keep the words within the range B2:E5? Thanks
how i sort a column through an excel formula
and can u explain about tbl in your formula because i did not get that
if u now about autofilter through a formula please give the formula
Hi
Thank you for all the info your providing
How do I create a formula to consider a range of numbers, sort them in descending order then add up only the 6 highest numbers?
yours truely
Markus
in this case "Sort a range from A to Z [Array formula]"
how about remove blank cell ?
thanks