Sorting

  • The rules for the column sorting sequence of tables is applied when the table is created using the Table Wizard or Table/Form options. Up to four levels can be sorted.

  • Select the appropriate data type. Note that alpha 12 will come before 2; numeric 2 will come before 12; numeric will come before alpha. The default BI Publisher sort sequence orders all upper case before lower case.

    To override the default sort sequence, so that uppercase and lowercase appear together:

    1. Open the BI Publisher Properties dialog box for the column that applies the sorting.

    2. In the Advanced tab, edit the field name as per this example:

      Current Code: <?sort:SPEC_TITLE;'ascending';data-type='text'?>

      New Code: <?sort:(xdoxslt:convert_case(SPEC_TITLE,'UPPER'));'ascending';data-type='text'?>

      Note:

      If the field is part of a group, replace the current-group()/<column name> part of the statement with (xdoxslt:convert_case(current-group()/<column name>,'UPPER')). For example:

      Current Code:

      <?sort:current-group()/SCORECARD_TEMPLATE;'ascending';data-type='text'?>

      Updated Code:

      <?sort:(xdoxslt:convert_case(current-group()/SCORECARD_TEMPLATE,'UPPER'));'ascending';data-type='text'?>

    3. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

    This will apply a sort sequence of numeric / lowercase / uppercase. For example, changing the default sequence of: 9876; A0001; R1234; a0001, r9001 to: 9876; a0001; A0001; R1234; r9001.

  • If sorting by all four columns and if the XML tag names are excessively long, it is possible to exceed the maximum permitted 393 characters.