Cannot access my sorting row in my chart.

Question

Hello,

My chart was originally working. When I accessed it today and added information it stopped sorting for me.

Answer 1

Hi @Liz,

Thank you for reaching out the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

To better understand the issue you're experiencing with the chart sorting feature, may I ask for some additional information to investigate your case with more accuracy?

• Where are you editing the chart? Excel desktop app or Excel Online via OneDrive?
• Are you using Excel with a personal account (@gmail, @hotmail, @outlook.com...) or a work or school account managed by your organization?
• Is your chart based on a Table or a regular data range?
• Did you add new rows or columns to the data? If so, did the chart range update automatically?
• Are you trying to sort the chart directly, or the data behind it? If this the case. charts don’t sort themselves. You will need to sort the source data.
• Do you see any error messages or grayed-out options when trying to sort?
• What type of chart are you using?

Once I have a clearer understanding of your current situation, I’ll be happy to assist you with greater accuracy. Please feel free to share any additional details you believe are relevant — screenshots are especially helpful and much appreciated.

 

In the meantime, please ensure that you have followed all the steps correctly and that there are no hidden rows or columns that might be causing the problem.

1. Check for merged cells and unmerge if necessary.
2. Ensure all data in a column are of the same type.
3. Select the entire row or column for sorting.
4. Remove any blank rows or columns within your data range.
5. Use the ‘Sort’ feature from the ‘Data’ tab correctly.

Kindly note that our initial response may not always resolve the issue right away. However, with your input and more specific information, we can work together toward an effective solution.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Looking forward to your response so I can assist you further. 

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