Microsoft KB Archive/58447

Works: Sorting on More than Three Fields PSS ID Number: Q58447 Article last modified on 12-14-1990 PSS database name: D_WorKs

1.00 1.05 2.00

MS-DOS

Summary:

You can sort on more than three fields in the Works version 1.05 database and in the Works version 2.00 spreadsheet and database.

Sorting a database on the basis of four or more fields requires you to perform multiple sequential sorts. Sorting on the basis of four, five, or six fields requires two sorts; sorting on the basis of seven, eight, or nine fields requires three sorts; sorting on the basis of 10, 11, or 12 fields requires four sorts, and so forth. However, the sorts must be performed in reverse order of importance.

For example, to sort a database on the basis of the entries of four fields, you would begin with a three-field sort that specifies the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary fields as the first, second, and third sort fields, respectively. After completing this sort, you would perform a single-field sort that specified the primary sort field as the first field.

Since, for the purposes of breaking ties, Works preserves the order of the records in the database and spreadsheet, the result of these sequential sorts is the same as that of a single four-field sort, which is not possible in Works.

Note: For reporting purposes, there is still a limit of three sort fields that can also serve as breakfields.

For more information on the Sort command, see page 422 of the “Microsoft Works Reference” version 1.05 manual, or page 231 of the “Microsoft Works Reference” version 2.00 manual.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1990.