5 Sorting and Filtering Data Free Online FlashCards

How do sorting and filtering differ?

Sorting rearranges records into an order; filtering temporarily hides records that do not meet chosen criteria.

What structure helps prepare a dataset for sorting and filtering?

Use a clear, unique header for each column, and avoid blank rows or columns that break up the dataset.

Why should you sort complete records rather than one column alone?

Each row should represent one record, with its fields kept together. Sorting only one column can associate values with the wrong records.

How should dates and numbers be stored in a dataset?

Store dates consistently as dates and numbers as numbers, rather than as text, so sorting and filtering can interpret them correctly.

What is a sort key?

A sort key is the column used to determine the order of records.

What does a multi-level sort do?

A multi-level sort uses a second key to order records tied on the first, such as sorting by Region and then by Sales within each region.

What are common sort directions for text, numbers, and dates?

Text can be sorted A to Z or Z to A, numbers smallest to largest or largest to smallest, and dates oldest to newest or newest to oldest.

What happens to records that do not match a filter?

A filter hides records that do not match its criteria; it does not delete them.

What are two ways to specify filter criteria?

You can filter by selecting values or setting a condition, such as Sales greater than 100, Region equals East, or Name contains Lee.

How do criteria in separate columns typically combine?

Criteria in separate columns typically combine with AND, so a record must satisfy both conditions.

When is a filter more useful than search?

Search locates matching text or numbers; a filter keeps a chosen subset of records visible for inspection.

What should you check if expected records are missing after filtering?

Check for misspellings, extra spaces, inconsistent categories, or numbers and dates stored as text.