Specifying the Sort Sequence of Columns 

Use

If you want to sort the list according to multiple columns, the result produced depends on the sequence in which the columns are sorted. You therefore specify the sort sequence.

Assume a column contains all the last names, and a second column contains all the first names of a company's employees. The sequence in which you sort the columns can produce different results:

Effects of Sort Sequences

Sort Sequence: Last Name, First Name		Sort Sequence: First Name, Last Name
Last Name	First Name	Last Name	First Name
Akino	Mikio	Yin	Bao
Akino	Tomoko	Moore	Julie
Bertolini	Vera	Akino	Mikio
Chung	Sang	Chung	Sang
Moore	Julie	Akino	Tomoko
Schmid	Vera	Bertolini	Vera
Yin	Bao	Schmid	Vera

Prerequisites

●      You have specified all columns using which you want to sort the list (see Specifying the Sort Direction).

Procedure

...

       1.      To specify the sort sequence, open the Settings dialog box (see Using the Dialog Box with Settings for the List).

       2.      Choose the Sorting tab page.

The Sorted Columns list contains all the columns used to sort the list.

 

If you display the list as a hierarchy (see Displaying As a Hierarchy), all hierarchy columns are displayed in the Sorted Columns list. They are displayed in color, which means you cannot change the sort sequence:

●        Hierarchy columns are always first in the sort sequence. You cannot place any other columns before them.

●        You specify the sort sequence of the hierarchy columns on the Display tab page.

       3.      To change the position of the columns in the Sorted Columns list, proceed as described in Swapping Columns.

       4.      Apply your settings to the list.