Module 01: Get comfortable in Excel
Sort complete records and filter a focused view
Reorder a small order list safely, then display only the records meeting two conditions.
Windows desktop: Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365. Mac/web menus and shortcuts differ. No dynamic arrays required.
Useful first: Format numbers without confusing display and value
- Sort all fields of a record together.
- Apply two filters and explain why both conditions must hold.
- Clear filters and reconcile the visible subset with the full dataset.
Small data. A result you can check.
Data only. Paste at A1 on a blank Orders worksheet. Amount must be numeric; no formulas are supplied.
View the raw practice data
Order Region Amount Status O-101 North 60 Open O-102 South 40 Closed O-103 North 120 Open O-104 South 80 Open O-105 North 40 Closed
01Start with a complete rectangular list
Paste at A1 on an Orders sheet. A1:D6 has one header row and five records. Keep amounts numeric; avoid separator rows and merged cells.
Before sorting, check O-103: North, 120, Open. Those fields must travel together. Sorting amounts alone can attach the wrong amount to each order.
| Order | Region | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-101 | North | 60 | Open |
| O-102 | South | 40 | Closed |
| O-103 | North | 120 | Open |
| O-104 | South | 80 | Open |
| O-105 | North | 40 | Closed |
02Choose an explicit order and tie-breaker
Select A1:D6 and choose Data > Sort, with headers enabled. Sort Amount from Largest to Smallest, then add Order from A to Z. This makes tied amounts predictable.
Expected order: O-103, O-104, O-101, O-102, O-105. Recheck O-103's fields. If warned about a partial selection, expand to the complete records. Use a copy for important source data.
03Filtering hides records without removing them
Select a cell in A1:D6 and choose Data > Filter. Select only North in Region, then only Open in Status. Every visible record must satisfy both conditions.
The two visible orders are O-103 for 120 and O-101 for 60. Their amounts add to 180. O-105 is North but Closed, so it does not belong in this view. The original five records still exist; filtering has hidden three of them rather than deleting them.
04Check the view before drawing a conclusion
Clear Status: three North records appear, totaling 220. Clear Region too: all five return, totaling 340. Label the current view when sharing a screenshot or exporting a subset.
Unexpected sorting or filter choices can indicate text in a numeric column; changing its appearance may not repair its type. Reapply filters after editing data. This exercise filters the original range rather than creating a separate formula output.
Produce an ordered North/Open view and then restore every record.
- Paste the sample at A1 and sort A1:D6 by Amount descending, then Order ascending.
- Filter Region to North and Status to Open.
- Record the visible order IDs and add their amounts by hand.
- Clear Status, then clear Region, checking the row count each time.
Show the worked answer
Sorted IDs: O-103, O-104, O-101, O-102, O-105.
North plus Open shows O-103 and O-101, with total 180.
North alone shows three records totaling 220.
With both filters cleared, all five records return and the total is 340.
Check your work- Each order retains its original region, amount, and status.
- The two 40-amount records have a defined tie-breaker.
- You can distinguish the full dataset from the current visible subset.
One question before you move on.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this lesson when you can explain the idea and reproduce the practice result.
Your checklist stays on this browser.Reference notes
These lessons use original examples. Check Microsoft’s documentation for details and platform-specific options.
Prepared September 13, 2026 · Column Harbor editorial team. Menu locations and available functions can vary by Excel version.