How to Sort by a Column Beyond the Default Excel Sort List in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to sort a wide WPS Spreadsheets worksheet by a column that does not appear in the default Custom Sort list, such as column SP, by specifying the column range manually.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A worksheet is too wide for a far column such as SP to appear in the default sort column choices, and the user wants to sort by that column.
- Observed behavior
- The target column is missing from the default Custom Sort list, so the user must enter the column range manually rather than selecting it directly from the visible list.
Open the target worksheet in WPS Spreadsheets and confirm that the intended sort column, such as SP, contains the values you want to sort by. If you plan to sort only part of the sheet, identify the exact data range before opening the sort dialog.
Use More Columns in the Custom Sort Dialog to Enter the SP:SP Range
Use this when the target column, such as SP, is not displayed in the default Custom Sort column list and you need a direct sort.
When a worksheet is very wide, WPS Spreadsheets may not list every column in the default sort choices. The Custom Sort dialog's range input lets you target a far column directly.
Open the workbook in WPS Spreadsheets and click any cell inside the data range you want to sort.
Click the Data tab, click Sort, and choose Custom Sort.
In the Custom Sort dialog, click More Columns or the equivalent add/expand button to show the range input.
In the range box, type SP:SP rather than only SP, set the sort order, and click OK.
Use the SORT Function to Sort by the Far Column Without Changing the Source Range
Choose this when you want a formula-driven sort that can target a column beyond the visible list, especially in a very wide worksheet.
Select the Required Data Range Explicitly Before Sorting
Use this for a one-time sort when you want to avoid the custom list behavior by defining exactly which columns are included.
Sort Wide WPS Spreadsheets by a Far Column with Custom Sort
Use Custom Sort in WPS Office Spreadsheets to enter a full column range such as SP:SP, so you can sort by columns that do not appear in the default sort list.
- 1. Open your workbook: Open the target .xlsx workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets.
- 2. Open Custom Sort: Click the Data tab, click Sort, and choose Custom Sort.
- 3. Enter the far column range: Click More Columns and type the full column range such as SP:SP in the range box.
- 4. Apply the sort: Choose ascending or descending order, then click OK to sort by the selected far column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does column SP not appear in the Custom Sort list?
When a worksheet is very wide, the default Custom Sort list may not include every available column. You can click More Columns and enter the complete column range, such as SP:SP, to target it manually.
Do I need to enter SP:SP or just SP in the range box?
Enter the full range like SP:SP. This is more reliable than entering only SP because it explicitly defines the entire column.
Can I sort by a far column without changing the original data?
Yes. Use the SORT function in an empty area of the sheet. For example, =SORT(A1:SP100,510,1) can return a sorted copy while the source data stays unchanged.
What should I do if Sort and Filter is disabled?
That usually depends on the worksheet structure or protection settings. Check whether the sheet is protected, whether a cell is in edit mode, or whether the current selection includes locked cells, then select a normal data range and try sorting again.
Is this sorting method compatible with Microsoft Excel files?
Yes. WPS Office Spreadsheets can open and save .xlsx files, and the Custom Sort method works with Excel-format workbooks, so you can switch between WPS Office and Excel without redoing the sorting setup.
