Sort a table without converting its values
The sort type determines the order. The exported strings remain the same as the source.
Select the right comparison model
Text mode orders labels as text, so 10 can appear before 2. Numeric mode orders their finite numeric values. ISO date mode accepts valid YYYY-MM-DD dates; ambiguous day-first strings are not interpreted automatically.
Resolve invalid values first
Numeric and date sorting stop if a nonblank selected cell does not satisfy the chosen type. This is deliberate: placing malformed values somewhere arbitrary can make a sorted export look authoritative while hiding a problem. Use the findings or cleaning workflow to review them first.
Preserve stable ties
When two values compare equal, their original relative order remains. Blank values stay together at the chosen first or last edge. Spot-check equal groups and empty values when the row order has operational meaning.