You can combine sorting and filtering in Excel to create specific data views that highlight exactly what you need. Here's how:

1. Apply your initial filter: Use the Filter dropdown arrows or the "Data" tab options to filter your data based on your desired criteria. This narrows down the dataset you'll be working with.

2. Sort the filtered data: Once you have your filtered view, you can further organize it by sorting. Click on the header row of the column you want to sort by. You'll see sort arrows appear. Choose ascending (A to Z) or descending (Z to A) to sort within the filtered results.

Advanced Techniques:

* Sort by multiple columns: Click the "Sort" icon in the "Editing" group on the "Home" tab. This allows you to sort by up to three columns with different sort orders for each.
* Sort within filter groups: After applying a filter, some options might display filtered data grouped by specific criteria. You can click the header row within a group to sort the data within that group further.

Benefits of Combining Sorting and Filtering:

* Focused Analysis: By filtering first, you ensure you're sorting only the relevant data, leading to more focused insights.
* Multi-Level Organization: Sorting within a filtered view allows you to analyze trends or patterns within specific categories.

Example:

Imagine you have a data table with sales information including salesperson, product category, and sales amount. You might first filter to show only sales for a specific product category (e.g., "Electronics"). Then, you could sort the filtered data by "Sales Amount" (descending) to see which electronics products are selling the most within that category.

By combining sorting and filtering, you can efficiently manipulate your data to create clear and informative views for further analysis.