Reapply a custom sort

Question

Microsoft lists these directions on their website:

Reapply a filter or sort

NOTE: For a table, filter and sort criteria are saved with the workbook so that you can reapply both the filter and sort each time that you open the workbook. However, for a range of cells, only filter criteria are saved with a workbook, not sort criteria. If you want to save sort criteria so that you can periodically reapply a sort when you open a workbook, then it's a good idea to use a table. This is especially important for multicolumn sorts or for sorts that take a long time to create.

• To reapply a filter or sort, on the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Sort & Filter, and then click Reapply.

Reapply is grayed out, so what do I do?

[Original title: reapply a custom sort]

Answer 1

OK, so you're saying that your data is not in a table.

In this case, reapply won't work, because reapply required the data to be in a table, as documented. This is just how Excel works, whether you find that helpful or not.

So, the answer to your question "Reapply is grayed out, so what do I do?" is: Turn the data into an Excel Table. Then you will be able to reapply sort and filter.

Answer 2

Is the data in an Excel Table object, inserted with Insert > Table? Reapply only works in Excel tables, not regular ranges, as the help articles states.

Answer 3

I don't understand. I'm trying to help and I am checking if your data is in a table. Your question does not say that. If you don't want my help, please just say so and I'll unsubscribe.

Answer 4

I guess you have my reply above already

Answer 5

By the way, I already know how to reapply the sort manually.  That's not helpful.