We have a straightforward opinion on this: a spreadsheet should let you sort data in the order *you* need, not just the order the tool expects. When a user has a list like "Ai, Up, Ye, Un, No" and needs it arranged that way, the standard A, Z or 1-10 options aren't just unhelpful, they're a constraint. And constraints like that are what push people toward clunky workarounds, like adding numbers as prefixes. That fix *works*, but it adds noise to a narrow column and makes the sheet harder to scan. The user knows this, which is why they called it "clunky." They're right.
The problem here isn't the data set or the user's approach. It's the tool's assumption that every sort should be alphabetical or numerical. In practice, many sorts are categorical. A priority list. A workflow sequence. A custom hierarchy that reflects how a person actually *thinks* about the information. The user in this post has already done the hard part: they know the exact order they want. What's missing is a system that trusts that judgment and provides a simple way to apply it, without requiring column hacks or lookup tables that break the clean layout.
This is exactly where AI-native spreadsheet tools can change the experience. Instead of asking you to fit your data into a rigid sort method, a smart tool could let you define a custom order with a short list, then apply it instantly across the sheet. The AI would recognize that "Ai, Up, Ye, Un, No" isn't random, it's a deliberate sequence. The user shouldn't have to work around the software. The software should adapt to the user's intent. That shift, from tool-driven sorting to intent-driven sorting, is what makes a spreadsheet feel like an extension of your thinking rather than a box you have to fight.
We think the real takeaway here is that small friction points, like a sort that only goes one way, add up. They shape how people use a tool and whether they feel empowered or frustrated. The user in this story is curious, not desperate, and that curiosity is exactly the right signal. They know a better approach exists. The question is whether the tools they're using will meet them there. A spreadsheet that could say, "I see you have a custom order in mind, let's make that your default sort," wouldn't just solve a formatting problem. It would validate the user's instinct that their data should be arranged the way *they* understand it.