Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

[danh]

I came across this old post in looking for this exact functionality - sorting multiple columns.

I don't see the option looking through the grid properties and the documentation, so the request for future enhancement must not have worked :(

Any ideas how to sort multiple columns?? Or do I tell my client "alpha doesn't support that..."??

[lgrupido]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

So far as I know, Alpha Doesn't support it, but ...

If you had a couple of predefined sorts that the user wants most, you could create buttons for them and do the sorting yourself. (Maybe someone will come up with a better idea.

And BTW: What we want is sorting multiple columns AFTER the grid has been pulled up. It's easy to default multiple column sorts, but once you click on a header to re-sort the grid, it's all one column at a time.

Larry

[agillbb]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

In the field's column properties, you can enter any sort expression you like.
For example: xx, yy DESC represents a SQL expression ORDER BY xx,yy DESC

[lgrupido]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

I didn't realize that. So you could setup, for instance, the last name field to always include the first name as part of the sort.

However, what we are getting at is that a user can't click on two different columns and say they want to sort on Column A first, then Column B ad hoc from the grid.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

However, what we are getting at is that a user can't click on two different columns and say they want to sort on Column A first, then Column B ad hoc from the grid.

That is an option in the desktop version........

[omagarc]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

Filter the last name then sort the first name

[danh]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

Check this out: http://screencast.com/t/IF3iMRb8g

[lgrupido]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

Gotta say, that looks really cool.

You should package it and sell it! I'll be your first buyer!

How much is "a little html and javascript"?

[danh]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

Not sure I know how to do that. I'll take any tips tho...

The html is a span and a checkbox in each column title, and the javascript is a function of about a dozen lines and a handful of lines in a clientside event.

I actually made an enhancement since my last post.

It now sorts ascending/descending on each individual column instead of all locked columns together. So you can toggle each locked column independently from ascending to descending and vice versa without affecting the other locked columns.

[agillbb]

Re: Sorting by multiple columns in a grid

Your idea is a really good one, Dan. Alpha may well get around to including functionality like this (eventually).

In the mean time, I think a wicked flexible approach would be to define 2 global js functions (or make them local per grid):
1) initMyGridSort(componentname, optional array of chosen column names) and
2) myGridSort(componentname, column name/number) so that any grid could use them.

You would simply place (in the OnGridRender js event) a call to initMyGridSort which accepts an array of the columns you specifically wish to 'sortify'. This function would use jQuery to:
1) insert the checkbox or image in a span before each respective closing th tag,
2) replace the onclick value of each column head with a special our custom myGridSort function call that would be the brains of the sorting routine.

This approach means that for any existing grid, you can simply place 2 lines of js (an array definition and an initMyGridSort call) in the onGridRender event and you're done!!!

The header column HTML looks like this, so you can easily access every part with jQuery.

<th id="GRID1.COLUMNTITLES.TOP.BQ_PROJECTNAME" class="GrOliveGridHeader" nowrap="nowrap" style="text-align: left;">
<a class="GrOliveLink" onclick="GRID1_GridObj.sort(4);return false;" href="#">
<span style="text-align: left;">Project Name</span>
</a>
<img border="0" src="CSS/GrOlive/GridSortAsc.png">
</th>

Dan, if you (or anyone else) succeeds with this generic approach, please share if you feel so inclined :)