Options for sorting records

To

Do this

Choose a sort field that is visible on the current layout and sort it according to the selected order

Choose Current Layout (LayoutName) from the tables list, then double-click a field in the list.

Choose a sort field that is in the current layout’s table

Choose Current Table (TableName) from the tables list, then double-click a field in the list.

Assign different sort orders to fields as you add them to the Sort Order list

For each sort field, in the fields list, select a field, select a sort order, then click Move.

Sort in a custom order, according to the order of values in a value list (for example, in the order months are arranged)

In the fields list, select a field, select Custom order based on value list, then choose or define a value list. See Defining value lists.

Records with values not in the specified value list will be sorted alphabetically at the end.

Change the order of the sort criteria (for example, to sort first by Region, then by City)

In the Sort Order list, click the double-arrow (to the left of the field name) and drag the field to a new position.

Include related fields anywhere in the sort order

Choose a table from the table list, then double-click a related field in the list.

If there is more than one matching record in the related table, FileMaker Pro Advanced will sort by the value in the first matching record in the related table, according to the sort order defined in the relationship. See Working with related tables.

Sort related records (rows) in a portal

If your access privileges allow, specify a sort order in the Edit Relationship dialog box. See Working with related tables.

Remove a field from the Sort Order list

In the Sort Order list, double-click the field.

Sort by summary fields

For example, to sort sales regions in order from highest to lowest total sales.

See Sorting records by subsummary values.

Return the records to creation order

Click Unsort or, in Browse mode, choose Records menu > Unsort.

Sort records according to a different language than the one used for indexing

Select Override field's language for sort, then choose a language. To change the field's default language for sorting, see Defining field indexing options.

Place a new or changed record that’s in sorted order into the adjusted order after you commit the record

Select Keep records in sorted order. When this checkbox is deselected, new or changed records stay in the same position in the sort order until you perform a find or sort the records by different criteria.