you can sort by color (from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/sort-data-in-a-range-or-table-HP010073947.aspx):
Sort by cell color, font color, or icon
If you have manually or conditionally formatted a range of cells or table column, by cell color or font color, you can also sort by these colors. You can also sort by an icon set created through a conditional format.
- Select a column of data in a range of cells, or make sure that the active cell is in a table column.
- On the Data tab, in the Sort & Filter group, click Sort.

The Sort dialog box is displayed.
- Under Column, in the Sort by box, select the column that you want to sort.
- Under Sort On, select the type of sort. Do one of the following:
- To sort by cell color, select Cell Color.
- To sort by font color, select Font Color.
- To sort by an icon set, select Cell Icon.
- Under Order, click the arrow next to the button, and then, depending on the type of format, select a cell color, font color, or cell icon.
- Under Order, select how you want to sort. Do one of the following:
- To move the cell color, font color, or icon to the top or left, select On Top for a column sort, and On Left for a row sort.
- To move the cell color, font color, or icon to the bottom or right, select On Bottom for a column sort, and On Right for a row sort.
Note There is no default cell color, font color, or icon sort order. You must define the order that you want for each sort operation.
- To specify the next cell color, font color, or icon to sort by, click Add Level, and then repeat steps three through five.
Make sure that you select the same column in the Then by box and that you make the same selection under Order.
Keep repeating for each additional cell color, font color, or icon that you want included in the sort.
- To reapply a sort after you change the data, click a cell in the range or table, and then on the Data tab, in the Sort & Filter group, click Reapply.
9/13/2011 10:43 AM (edited)