Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Sorting with Graphics.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 6, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
You already know that Excel allows you to place graphics in your worksheets. You may not know, however, that Excel allows you to sort graphics along with the regular data in your tables. For instance, you could create an inventory table that has the requisite part numbers, descriptions, and quantities. You could also include a column that shows a small picture of each inventory item. When you later sort the table, the pictures sort right along with the rest of the data in the table.
If you can't seem to make the graphics sort along with the other data in the table, keep these pointers in mind:
If your graphics still won't sort, the properties of the graphic may have been changed to prohibit sorting. Follow these steps if you are using Excel 2007:
Figure 1. The Properties tab of the Size and Properties dialog box.
The steps are different for users of Excel 2010:
If you are using Excel 2013 or a later version, the steps are different still:
Figure 2. The Properties settings in the Format Picture task pane.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6139) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Sorting with Graphics.
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2021-02-12 00:20:52
Darryl Gebien
How can you remove blanks from a single column that contains both multiple images and blanks?
Thanks!
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