What is group sorting?

Group sorting is a facility available on table worksheets that removes repeated values to make reports easier to analyze. Group sorting has the following effects:

• The group name is displayed only once at the start of a group.

• Repeated group name values are removed from the worksheet.

• Group sorts take precedence over non-group sorts. If you have more than one item in the sort list, the item with the Group Sort option selected automatically becomes the first item in the sort list.

In figure below, the worksheet on the left has group sort on Region turned off (i.e. the Sort Type setting is Normal). The worksheet on the right has the group sort on Region turned on (i.e. the Sort Type setting is Group Sort). Notice that the repeated regions are removed when group sort is turned on.

Figure 16-4 Using the Group Sort option

Description of the illustration sortex2.gif

Key to figure:
a. The Sort dialog and worksheet before group sort is turned on.
b. The Group field set to none.
c. The Sort dialog and worksheet after group sort is turned on.
d. The Group field set to Group Sort.