How to sort dates automatically upon entry or change in Excel?
In Excel, the Sort function can help you to sort date in ascending or descending order as you need. But it isn’t dynamic, if you have sorted the date and then add new date to it, you would need to sort it again. Are there any good and quick ways to auto-sort dates when entering new data each time in a worksheet?
Auto sort date when date is entered or changed with formula
Auto sort date when date is entered or changed with VBA code
Auto sort date when date is entered or changed with formula
For example, if the original dates are in Column A, the following formula can help you auto-sort the dates or any other text strings into a new helper column based on the column you want to sort. Please follow these steps：
1. Enter this formula:
=INDEX($A$2:$A$15,MATCH(ROWS($A$2:A2),COUNTIF($A$2:$A$15,"<="&$A$2:$A$15),0)) into a blank cell beside your date column, C2, for example, and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to get a number sequence. Next, drag the fill handle down to the desired cells. See screenshot:
Note: In above formula: A2:A15 is your original date range that you want to auto sort.
2. Then format the numbers as date format by clicking Short Date from the General drop down list under the Home tab, see screenshot:
3. The sequence numbers are now converted to date format, and the original dates have been sorted as well. See screenshot:
4. From now on, when you enter or change a date in column A, the dates in column C will be sorted in ascending order automatically. See screenshot:
Auto sort date when date is entered or changed with VBA code
The following VBA code can help you auto-sort dates in the original column when you enter or change a date as needed.
1. Go the worksheet that you want to auto sort the date when you enter or change a date.
2. Right click the sheet tab, and select View Code from the context menu, in the popped out Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, please copy and paste the following code into the blank Module window, see screenshot:
VBA code: auto sort when date is entered or changed:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updateby Extendoffice
On Error Resume Next
If Application.Intersect(Target, Application.Columns(1)) Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
If Target.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
Range("A1").Sort Key1:=Range("A2"), Order1:=xlAscending, Header:=xlYes, _
OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, Orientation:=xlTopToBottom
End Sub
Note: In the above code, the entered dates will be auto-sorted in column A. You can change A1 and A2 to your own cells as you need.
3. From now on, when you enter a date in column A, the dates will be sorted in ascending order automatically.
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