Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 7, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Martin is importing data into a worksheet from an SQL view; it comes in perfectly. Excel automatically creates a defined table using the imported data. Martin then inserts new columns in the middle of the table so he can start to work with the data, but once these new columns are inserted, he cannot sort the worksheet—the option is grayed out. Martin is wondering why this is happening and how to fix it.
The problem is probably due to the fact that the data is being imported as a defined table. Defined tables can have some "peculiarities" (shall we say) that affect what you can and cannot do with them. You can figure out if this is what is causing the problem by following these steps:
That's it; if you can now add information and sort your data, then the problem is solved. If you cannot see a Design or Table Design tab in step 2 (and you selected a cell in the data table), then your data is not a defined table and these steps won't work. If the problem persists, then it could be because the SQL connection between the data source and Excel is somehow limiting what you can and cannot do with the data. You may need to poke around in the Trust Center settings for external content in order to figure out what will work with your situation.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9044) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.
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