To simplify working with a large number of records in its data tables, Opus provides options to reorder records within a table (sorting), and to control which records display (filtering). Both of these options can be applied in a range of ways, either independently or at the same time. This article deals with the first of these, the Sorting Options.
Reordering Table Records
Sorting Options settings allow users to reorder the display of records within a data table.
How It Works
Sorting Options are controlled by a clickable interface symbol — the Sort Icon — located at the top of each column in a data table. The Sort Icon has three possible states, and clicking it cycles the Sorting Options through neutral, ascending and descending.
Neutral ("minus sign" (—) icon)
The records in the table are unaffected by the values in this column.
Ascending ("arrow pointing up" icon)
The records in the table are sorted forwards by this column, numerically increasing and from A to Z.
Descending ("arrow pointing down" icon)
The records in the table are sorted backwards by this column, numerically decreasing and from Z to A.
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Note: Inadvertently using Sorting Options in multiple columns may result in an unexpected order of records. See the Multi-Column Sorting section below.
Example
The following screenshot shows a table with a browser pointer near the Sort Icon. Note that data tables typically have more than two columns, but this example is reduced for simplicity. The records in the screenshot are ordered forwards, numerically increasing and from A to Z, on the Department column, and the icon is an "up pointing" arrow. Clicking the icon again would change it to a "down pointing" arrow and reverse the order of the records in the table. Clicking it a third time would change the icon to a "minus sign" and stop sorting the records in the table on this column.
Returning To Default Settings
Sorting Options can be reset to their default state by using the Reset Table button. Pressing this will also return Filtering Options and visible columns to their default states:
Multi-Column Sorting
Users may want to use Sorting Options in multiple columns simultaneously.
In the below screenshot, the Sorting Options in the Affiliation column are set to ascending after the Department column has been set to descending. Since the table was first sorted by Department, it now additionally sorts by Affiliation, numerically increasing and from A to Z, within each department. Note the Sorting Status Line above the table, which tells the user in what order Sorting Options are applied.
In the screenshot above, clicking again on the Sort Icon in the Affiliation column would change the Sorting Order in that column to descending. The table would then display records sorted backwards by affiliation, numerically decreasing and from Z to A, within each department. Clicking this icon a third time would neutralize the Sorting Options in the Affiliation column.
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Tip: If you sort a table and nothing (or very little) seems to happen, look at the “Sorting by” display to see if there’s some other criteria that is sorting first. A common source of confusion stems from the fact that a table always defaults to sorting on a particular column (often the name column) and in order to sort by another column, the sort must be cleared after (or before) sorting on the desired column. If this is the case, click the Sort Icon in the original column until it goes to neutral (—).
Sorting Options in More Than 2 Columns
Sorting Options can be applied in as many columns as the user desires. Their application always follows the same rules outlined above. If you activate too many Sorting Options, consider pressing "Reset Table" to clear them quickly.
Combining Sorting with Filtering
When a data table is filtered, Sorting Options act on the records still visible in the table — i.e., sorting and filtering occur simultaneously. See the articles linked below for more information about filtering data tables.
See Also
Data Tables: Filtering Data Within A Table