How to sort your data using a customized list

If you would like to sort your data differently, and not in ascending or descending order using the Sort feature in Microsoft® Excel®, you can customize it! The Custom Lists feature allows you to define your own order. For example, if a Sales Manager wants to sort product categories in a specific order instead of dates, they can do so using Custom Lists.

Note: Download the workbook to practice this exercise

Applies To: Microsoft® Excel® 2007, 2010 and 2013

  1. We will create a custom list for the sales transactions data.
    • Highlight the data range A5:A9 as below.

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  1. Select File then Options.
  2. Select Advanced and thereafter Edit Custom Lists as shown below.

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  1. Then import the list by clicking on Import and OK.

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  • The list is imported from the data range A5:A9 in the spreadsheet.
  • You can also type the custom list by entering under list entries and clicking Add.
  1. After you click Import the list will be displayed as below.

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  1. Click OK and OK again.
  2. To sort by the custom list, click on the Data tab then Sort.

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  1. Select Category Name and Custom List as shown below.

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  • Then select the custom list that shows Dairy Products, Beverages etc. Then click OK.

 

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The list will be sorted in a customised order with Dairy Products appearing on top of the list. You can also use custom lists to sort the months or days in chronological order and not alphabetically.