Report Grouping - nonconventional

[rjasong23]

I have a report that spits out the details of different performing types (performances, TV&Radio, Assemblies, etc.). Normally I would just sort the report ascending or descending - however, my boss wants "Performances" to be first everytime - and then the rest of the categories either ascending or descending. Is there a way to do this?

Is there a way to sort or group with one exception like this? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Smart]

You could add a column to the table and give it a value of 1 for performance
2 for whatever you wnat next etc.Then in the report sort by the new field

 

[iago18]

Smart is on the right track, but you'd want to take a second step.

1. Yes, add a column and set the sort order starting with 1. Also, for any records that you want to sort alphabetically, set the sort numbers THE SAME.

Example:

1 Performance
2 Second Item
3 Third Item
3 Fourth Item

2. Now in the report's recordsource sort BY TWO OPTIONS. First have it sort by Sort Number (1, 2, 3) but also then sort by Name. That way all the unique sort numbers will be in the order requested, but then all records with the SAME sort number will sort alphabetically.

Result:

1 Performance
2 Second Item
3 Fourth Item (alphabetically from now on...)
3 Third Item

The key is: in your SQL statement recordsource for the report, make sure that the Sort Order column sort is listed first and the Name sort is second.

Hope this makes sense...

 

[rjasong23]

Thanks for your ideas - they worked wonderfully!