[Solved] Sort by date

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phire404
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Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:29 am

[Solved] Sort by date

Post by phire404 »

For a spreadsheet like this, how do I sort by date? It's doing it numerically. Thank you in advance.
2025-11-17 17_04_58-LGDisplayExtensionWnd.png
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Last edited by Hagar Delest on Tue Nov 18, 2025 8:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: tagged solved.
OpenOffice Version 3.4.0 on a Windows 7 PC
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MrProgrammer
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Re: How to Sort by Date?

Post by MrProgrammer »

phire404 wrote: Tue Nov 18, 2025 12:09 am It's doing it numerically.
Please search first before posting.
[Solved] Unable to Sort by Date Column
[Solved] Can't sort dates
[Solved] Date format for sort

If you need any additional assistance attach a spreadsheet demonstrating the situation (remove confidential information then use Post Reply, not Quick Reply, and don't attach a picture instead of the spreadsheet itself). I will not help further unless you attach a spreadsheet document.

If this solved your problem please go to your first post use the Edit ✏️ button and add [Solved] to the start of the Subject field. Select the green checkmark icon at the same time.

[Tutorial] Ten concepts that every Calc user should know
Mr. Programmer
AOO 4.1.7 Build 9800, MacOS 13.7.8, iMac Intel.   The locale for any menus or Calc formulas in my posts is English (USA).
phire404
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:29 am

Re: Sort by date

Post by phire404 »

Thank you MrProgrammer, the only problem is I don't understand any of those threads. Is there a video tutorial that can help with sorting by date in OpenOffice? I have tried looking on YouTube but I haven't found one that helps yet.
OpenOffice Version 3.4.0 on a Windows 7 PC
phire404
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:29 am

Re: Sort by date

Post by phire404 »

I was unable to understand the human-made explanations. So I asked ChatGPT and this worked for me:

Use “Text to Columns” (best and easiest)

Select the entire date column.
Go to Data → Text to Columns.
Under Fields, make sure the column is highlighted.
On the right, set the Column Type to Date (DMY, MDY, YMD) depending on your format.
Click OK.
Calc will convert text-like dates into real numeric date values.
OpenOffice Version 3.4.0 on a Windows 7 PC
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MrProgrammer
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Re: Sort by date

Post by MrProgrammer »

phire404 wrote: Tue Nov 18, 2025 2:48 am I was unable to understand the human-made explanations. So I asked ChatGPT and this worked for me:

Select the entire date column.
Go to Data → Text to Columns.
Under Fields, make sure the column is highlighted.
On the right, set the Column Type to Date (DMY, MDY, YMD) depending on your format.
Click OK.
Calc will convert text-like dates into real numeric date values.
I'm glad you found a solution. The following advice was in the first topic that I linked for you. Click the arrow below to view it. Seems as if AI is just repeating what I said 14 years ago.
MrProgrammer wrote: Fri May 27, 2011 6:33 pm Select the entire DATE column and use Data, Text to Columns. Underneath Fields, Column type, click Standard, then in the box to the right of Column type, change Standard to Date (MDY), OK. This will convert the values in the column to dates.
Mr. Programmer
AOO 4.1.7 Build 9800, MacOS 13.7.8, iMac Intel.   The locale for any menus or Calc formulas in my posts is English (USA).
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