Can't Sort a Table in Access 2013

[Cartaphilus]

I have a table in a database (Access 2013) that I want to sort by a particular column. But when I select the column, the Sort commands 'Ascending' and 'Descending' grey out. Strangely, at least to me, this only happens on some columns, while others in the same table will sort properly. The problem isn't restricted to a particular data type. Some numeric columns sort, others don't. Some alpha columns sort, others don't, etc. I've googled the problem but can't seem to find an answer. Can someone help me figure out how to make all columns sortable? TIA...

[Bob Fitz]

Create a query based on the table. You should be able to sort the query by any column

[Cartaphilus]

Create a query based on the table. You should be able to sort the query by any column

Thanks for the quick reply. So I can't just start Access, open the table, select a column, and sort on it? I'm going to have to do this programmatically? Also, any idea of why I can sort some columns and not others?

[CJ_London]

have you tried compacting and repairing? - db may have become corrupted in some way. Also, field names which are reserved words can cause unexpected issues. (Date, Time, Name, Desc and Description are commonly used in error).

You've mention the datatypes and alpha or numeric, but are you using lookups, multivalue or calculated fields? These are not always sortable or don't sort as expected.

Have you also tried using the criteria on the dropdown? or are these disabled as well?

[John_G]

Are any of the fields memo type? You can't sort on those, either.

[Cartaphilus]

Are any of the fields memo type? You can't sort on those, either.

Bingo! Yes, the fields that won't sort are memos, renamed in Access 2013 as 'long text'. I hadn't seen John_G's reply, I was just logging on to update my question and let everyone know I had discovered this myself by further examination. So not that it matters, since that little factoid isn't going to change, but why the <expletive deleted> can't you sort long text fields?

Anyhow, my thanks to all of you that replied and tried to help. That's community.