In the Excel table below, column A and column B forms the content structure. The dates in column A are not arranged in chronological order.

Task: Sort dates in column A in correct chronological order while keeping the empty cells in their original positions. Column B will remain what it is.

Use SPL XLL to do this task:

=spl("=d=E@1(?), d(p=d.pselect@a(~))=d(p).sort(),d",A2:A9)

E@1 converts a data range to a single-layer sequence. pselect@a gets positions of all members meeting the specified condition; ~ is the current member. "sequence 1(a set of positions)= sequence 2" modifies members of sequence 1 at specified positions into sequence 2.

Source:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78152722/sorting-rows-and-leaving-blanks-in-their-position