Access 2003 Tip - Sort by More than One Column (In Datasheet View)

The students in a MS Access class I recently taught found this tip very helpful.

With MS Access queries, you can sort a set a data by more by one or more columns.

What if you need a quick way to sort without using a query?
Double-click on a table's name, to open it in Datasheet view. Click on one of the sort buttons, to sort the records in ascending or descending order.


But what if you want to sort by more than one column? Select the columns. Click on the sort button.

There are some restrictions to sorting by more than one column.

• All of the columns you want to sort must be next to each other.
• All of the sorting must be in one direction (i.e., you must sort all columns in ascending or descending order).

What if you don't want the columns next to each other?

Click and drag to move the columns next to each other, sort the columns, and then move the columns back to where you need them.