How would I sort a list by an ID such as 2.1.4, 2.1.14, 2.1.1, 2.1.6

Question

The 2.1.14 always comes before 2.1.6 etc., because SharePoint sees the .14 comining before the .6

It has to be a easier way to sort this. Any help will be appreciated.

Mike

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Michael L. Williams

Answer 1

Mike,

Perhaps you could add a calculated column that parses out the pieces of the id to build a numerical value and then sort on that column.

Answer 2

I've tried that and parsed out the ". .", but it's still reading it as 2.1.6 and I would have to add a "0" after the second "." inorder for it to sort correctly. Such as 2.1.06. That will cause all items to have the 0 after the ".", like 2.1.014.....so I don't think that will work.

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Michael L. Williams

Answer 3

Understood.  I was thinking you could prepend zeros for each number to form a standard size.  Some examples:

  2.1.6   -> 000020000100006
  2.14.2 -> 000020001400002

Alternatively, you could subtract the numbers from 10000 and sort inversly.  Some examples:

  2.1.6   -> 999989999999994
  2.14.2 -> 999989998699998

Answer 4

Try creating a secondary meta-data column to hold the next set of digits then group by it

Answer 5

I was thinking about trying to use the Trim function and trimming the .14 off of let's say 2.1.14 and placing the .14 in a secondary metadata column and sorting off of that secondary. Theoretically it should work. I hope.

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Michael L. Williams