How can I alphabetize a list in pages?

Alphabetize or sort table data in Pages on Mac

You can sort column data alphabetically or by increasing or decreasing values. When you sort by column, the rows of the table rearrange accordingly.

Note: If the sort options aren’t available, your table might have cells merged across adjacent rows. You need to unmerge the cells to sort. Click the merged cells, then choose Format > Table > Unmerge Cells (from the Format menu at the top of your screen). If you’re not sure where the merged cells are, select the table, then choose Format > Table > Unmerge All Cells.

Text in column headers and footers isn’t sorted.

Note: The tasks below apply to a table you add to your page. They don’t apply to a page you formatted into columns.

Alphabetize or sort table data

1. Click anywhere in the table, then move the pointer over the letter above the column by which you want to sort.
2. Click the arrow that appears next to the column letter, then choose a sorting option:

• • Sort Ascending: Sort the data in alphabetical order (A to Z) or by increasing numerical values.
  • Sort Descending: Sort the data in reverse–alphabetical order (Z to A) or by decreasing numerical values.

In columns containing both text and numbers, ascending order sorts numbers before text (for example, 1a, 1b, 2a, a1, b1). Ascending order also places Boolean (true/false) cells after cells sorted alphabetically or numerically, and places blank cells at the bottom of the column.

Tip: Table columns don’t sort independently from each other—all the cells in a row stay together when you sort a column. If you want to sort a column separately, first sort the column, then copy all the cells in that column. Then Undo the sort (to revert to the previous table sort order) and paste the copied cells back into the column.

If you are referring to a text list in body text, and not a Pages List where you want to rearrange the List items, then I suggest you install the free WordService from the Mac App Store. It has two services that allow you to sort a text list ascending, or descending in a blink of an eye.

WordService will install its Services during the installation from the Mac App Store, but does not activate them by default. You visit System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services and within Services, you scroll down until you encounter the following, which I have activated, and you should too. The keyboard short for these services is already set.

Back in Pages, select your vertical list of text (ideally words), and then Pages menu > Services > WordService:Sort Lines Ascending. The list will be sorted in place instantly.

The installation of WordService places an application in your /Applications folder whose sole purpose is to open Preview with a PDF of available services and their description.