SOLUTION: "...not valid for sorting" error sorting a table"

Question

I had this problem today. The discussion addressing it was locked and didn't provide a solution. This is how I solved it and thought it might help others.

I inserted a table into an Outlook 365 Task but could not get it to sort. I found that selecting "Options" on the Sort, then OK on Sort Options before returning to OK on Sort worked. Pic might help...

Answer 1

When you select a table, Word assumes that you want to sort by the first item: "A" in your example. However, that isn't going to work unless "A" is part of a header row. If it is not, you will have to explicitly choose which column you want to sort by. You make that selection directly in the Sort dialog box, so there is no need to go into the Options dialog.

Answer 2

Thanks for that clarification Stefan. I'm sure this thread will help others.

The other Locked thread only suggested Merged Cells could be an issue.

I just played around and got it to work...obviously in a clunky way...but it worked.

The Error Message (from not selecting a Column in the absence of a Header) could be more helpful - something raised but not addressed in the other thread here "...not valid for sorting" error sorting a table - Microsoft Community.

Answer 3

Indeed, Word is trying to be helpful and suggests the value in the top left cell as the item to "Sort by," and the sort will then fail because "Anaconda" in your most recent example (or "A" in our previous examples) is neither a label from a header row or a column number.

You are quite right: the error message could definitely be more helpful. I recommend that you post feedback for Microsoft. Use the File > Feedback > Send a Frown command in Word.