Sorting the groups

You can sort the groups in a DataWindow object. For example, in a DataWindow object showing employee information grouped by department, you might want to sort the departments (the groups) by total salary.

Typically, this involves aggregate functions, as described in “Adding summary statistics”. In the department salary example, you would sort the groups using the aggregate function Sum to calculate total salary in each department.

StepsTo sort the groups:

  1. Place the mouse pointer on the group header bar (not inside the band) until the pointer becomes a double-headed arrow.

  2. Click.

    The General property page for the group displays in the Properties view.

  3. Click the button next to the Group Sort box.

    The sample shows the general property page for the group in the Properties view. It has fields for color, height, and group definition, and at bottom is a Group Sort box with a button to its right. The button is highlighted by a rectangle drawn around it.

    The Specify Sort Columns dialog box displays.

  4. Drag the column you want to sort the groups by from the Source Data box into the Columns box.

    If you chose a numeric column, Sybase WorkSpace uses the Sum function in the expression; if you chose a non-numeric column, Sybase WorkSpace uses the Count function.

    For example, if you chose the Salary column, Sybase WorkSpace specifies that the groups will be sorted by the expression sum(salary for group 1):

    The sample shows the Specify Sort Columns dialog box. At top are instructions to drag and drop items and to double click any items you want to edit. A Source Data area displays the columns that you can drag and drop into the Columns box at right. The Columns box contains the expression sum ( salary for group 1 ). The check box for Ascending order is selected.

  5. Select ascending or descending sort as appropriate.

  6. If you want to modify the expression to sort on, double-click the column in the Columns box.

    The Modify Expression dialog box displays.

  7. Specify the expression to sort on.

    For example, to sort the department group (the first group level) on average salary, specify avg(salary for group 1).

  8. Click OK.

    You return to the Specify Sort Columns dialog box with the expression displayed.

  9. Click OK again.

    At runtime, the groups will be sorted on the expression you specified.




Copyright © 2007. Sybase Inc. All rights reserved. Highlighting Information in DataWindow Objects