use unique function while also sorting

Question

I have unique function that's related to 2 columns and any time I sort the two columns it alters the list of unique values. Is there a way to sort the unique values alphabetically and not have it react to when I sort my input data columns?

Sorted by column A does this to column E:

Bag	Item	Packed
car (kids)	activity/coloring books			car (kids)
car (kids)	blankets			car (me)
car (kids)	crayons			diaper bag
car (kids)	pillow(s)			Gavin
car (kids)	puke bags			kids (all)
car (me)	flippy			Logan
diaper bag	blk bottle holder bag			Mason
Gavin	bathing suit			me

Sorted by B does this:

Bag	Item	Packed
car (kids)	activity/coloring books			car (kids)
Gavin	bathing suit			Gavin
Logan	bathing suit			Logan
Mason	bathing suit			Mason
car (kids)	blankets			diaper bag
diaper bag	blk bottle holder bag			me
Gavin	bottles			car (me)

Like I understand why it's doing that, I'm just trying to see if there's a way to absolutely sort regardless of how A & B are sorted. Thanks!

Answer 1

If I understand correctly, you are using a UNIQUE function in Column E for the data in Column A and want it to be sorted alphabetically regardless of how you sort the data in Columns A:C. You can put a SORT function in front of the UNIQUE function to sort the results of that function like this. This will sort the unique results no matter what order they are in in Column A.

=SORT(UNIQUE(A2:A16))

Answer 2

yes, thank you! I had the sort function in my formula but for some reason it wasn't working. Yours fixed it :) Thanks again!