How to Sort Cells in Excel Using C#

What Happens When I Sort Multiple Columns?

When sorting multiple columns independently, each column processes separately. Relationships between values in different columns are not preserved. This approach suits scenarios where columns contain independent datasets, such as different product categories, regional sales figures, or unrelated metrics.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/sort-cells-range.cs

using IronXL;

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Select a column(A)
var column = workSheet.GetColumn(0);

// Sort column(A) in ascending order (A to Z)
column.SortAscending();

// Sort column(A) in descending order (Z to A)
column.SortDescending();

workBook.SaveAs("sortExcelRange.xlsx");

Imports IronXL

Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet

' Select a column(A)
Private column = workSheet.GetColumn(0)

' Sort column(A) in ascending order (A to Z)
column.SortAscending()

' Sort column(A) in descending order (Z to A)
column.SortDescending()

workBook.SaveAs("sortExcelRange.xlsx")

When Should I Use SortByColumn Instead of SortAscending?

Use SortByColumn when maintaining relationships between data across multiple columns. This method works for:

• Database-like structures: Each row represents a complete record (employee data, product inventory, customer information)
• Financial reports: Sort transactions by date while keeping all transaction details together
• Student grades: Organize by student name while preserving scores across different subjects
• Inventory management: Sort products by price while maintaining product codes, descriptions, and quantities

Independent column sorting with SortAscending or SortDescending suits:

• Statistical analysis where columns represent different data series
• Ranking individual metrics independently
• Data normalization tasks

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/sort-cells-sort-by-column.cs

using IronXL;

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Select a range
var range = workSheet["A1:D10"];

// Sort the range by column(B) in ascending order
range.SortByColumn("B", SortOrder.Ascending);

workBook.SaveAs("sortRange.xlsx");

Imports IronXL

Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet

' Select a range
Private range = workSheet("A1:D10")

' Sort the range by column(B) in ascending order
range.SortByColumn("B", SortOrder.Ascending)

workBook.SaveAs("sortRange.xlsx")

For advanced sorting scenarios, combine sorting operations with other IronXL features. After sorting, convert your spreadsheet to different formats like CSV or JSON for further processing or integration with other systems.

What Are the Current Limitations?

Multi-column sorting (sorting by column A then column B) is not yet supported. This multi-level sorting, common in database systems, would enable more complex data organization. Achieve similar results by:

1. First sorting by the secondary column
2. Then sorting by the primary column using a stable sort algorithm

For complex data manipulation beyond sorting, explore comprehensive Excel editing capabilities in IronXL. Review complete sorting examples for practical implementations and advanced use cases.

IronXL's sorting algorithms optimize for speed and memory efficiency when processing large datasets in production environments. The library handles both numeric and text data types automatically, applying appropriate comparison logic based on cell content type.