As an optional step when creating targeting rules, you can sort targeting results by specific content properties (author name, for example) in either ascending (A-Z, 1-9) or descending (Z-A, 9-1) order. This allows you to control the order in which the content items are retrieved and displayed from a content repository.
For example, if you sort targeted content items in ascending order by author, items are displayed from the content repository in alphabetical order by author name. The application developers can then, in turn, set up a targeting servlet bean that controls the order in which these retrieved items appear on a Web page. For example, the developers can set up a servlet bean that displays the first 10 items as they are retrieved from the content repository (in alphabetical order by author). They can also specify additional sorting criteria within the servlet bean that re-sorts and displays those 10 items (by title, for example).
Note: The sorting order specified by a developer in a targeting servlet bean overrides the sorting order specified in the content targeter. If no sorting order is specified in the servlet bean, items are displayed in the order in which they are retrieved from a content repository.
To sort targeted content items:
Click Step 2 Specify options for displaying this content at the top of the Content Targeters window.
In the Sort Items By list, select the properties you want to sort by.
Click the Add button to move your selected properties to the Selected Properties list on the right side of the window. If you want to select multiple properties, hold down the Control key while making your selections.
An arrow appears to the right of each property, indicating its current sorting order. (By default, properties are sorted in ascending order.) If you want to change a property’s sorting order, select it and click one of the Order buttons in the lower right corner of the window.
Note: Properties are used in the order in which they appear in the Selected Properties list. If you want to change the order, select a property, remove it (by clicking the Remove button), and re-add it to the list (by clicking the Add button).
