Sorting Records in an Access Table

The Access Database Sort feature allows you to reorder a list of data in your table. This can be done alphabetically or numerically, in ascending or descending order. It is a useful feature when you want to sort your records into, say, surname order, or maybe in age order, for example.

1. To sort your records into surname order, click any cell in the SURNAME column of your table. This tells Access that your records are going to be sorted by this particular field.

2. Next, look for the ASCENDING, DESCENDING, and REMOVE SORT icons in the SORT AND FILTER group of the HOME ribbon.

   
   The SORT icons.

3. To sort in ascending order, click the ASCENDING Icon, or to sort in descending order, click the DESCENDING Icon below.

   
   Sorting records in an Access Table.

4. To remove the sort and get your original list back in its original order, click the REMOVE SORT Icon, which is the lowest Icon of the three.

Next we shall take a look at Searching Tables