Get Hands-On and Sort List Views by Multiple Columns

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

• Apply multi-column sorting to a list view.
  
• Organize records in a logical, business-relevant order to make key information easier to find.
  

Sort List Views by Multiple Columns

Salesforce now lets you sort list views by up to five columns, giving you a clearer and more actionable view of your data. You can choose which columns to sort by and whether each should be in ascending or descending order. If you want to return to sorting by a single column, simply click a column header that isn’t part of your multi-column sort.

This feature is generally available in Lightning Experience for all editions except Starter and Pro Suite.

Here’s how to Sort by Multiple Columns.

• Open a list view in Lightning Experience.
  
• Click the Column Sort button.
  
• Select up to five columns to include in your sort, specifying ascending or descending order for each.
  

For example, you might create a Cases list view sorted first by Contact Name, then by Priority, and finally by Date/Time Opened to quickly identify which high-priority cases to address. Or, in an Opportunities list view, you could sort by Close Date and then Amount to focus on deals that are both imminent and high-value.

Your sorting configuration remains saved until you modify it. To return to the default sort order, click the List View Controls menu and select Reset Column Sorting.

Get Hands-On with Multi-Column Sort

Create a new Trailhead Playground now to follow along and try out the steps in this module. Scroll to the bottom of this page, click the playground name, and then select Create Playground. It typically takes 3–4 minutes for Salesforce to create your Trailhead Playground. When the Playground has been created, click Launch. Your playground opens in a new browser tab or window. Keep the playground window open while you complete the steps.

Your job is to create a customized list view that surfaces the most relevant records for efficient action and decision-making. Use the multi-column sort feature to organize records in a list view by multiple criteria. Configure sorting by status and priority to make it easier to identify high-priority cases and understand their status at a glance.

1. From the App Launcher, navigate to the Cases object.
   
2. Click List View Controls.
   
3. Click New.
   
4. Add the following information.
   
   • List Name: All Cases Sorted
     
   • List API Name: All_Cases_Sorted
     
   • Visibility: All users can see this list view.
     
5. Click Save.
   
6. Click List View Controls.
   
7. Click Select Fields to Display and make sure the list contains the following fields.
   
   • Case Number
     
   • Contact Name
     
   • Subject
     
   • Status
     
   • Priority
     
   • Date/Time Opened
     
   • Case Owner Alias
     
8. Click Column Sort.
   
9. Add the following sort columns.
   
   • Status: Ascending
     
   • Priority: Descending
     
10. Click Apply to view your newly sorted list.
    

Notice how this ordering makes it easier to identify high-priority cases that have been open the longest. Your configuration is automatically saved. You can now check the challenge to complete your Platform App Builder certification maintenance. In the future, if you wanted to reset your columns, you can do so in the List View Controls option.

Great job! Click Check Challenge to Earn 500 Points below to check your work and earn your badge.

Resources

• Salesforce Help: Sort List Views by Multiple Columns (Generally Available)