Sorting Question

[Rose]

I am trying to do an Address booklet and having some problems sorting. I
want to sort by last name. My problem is that many family members have a
different last name. Therefore, if they are in the same family they are
grouped by a family ID. If I sort by family ID (Number), it does not sort
the single people alphabetically. Any Ideas?

 

[fredg]

I am trying to do an Address booklet and having some problems sorting. I
want to sort by last name. My problem is that many family members have a
different last name. Therefore, if they are in the same family they are
grouped by a family ID. If I sort by family ID (Number), it does not sort
the single people alphabetically. Any Ideas?

In the report's Sorting and Grouping dialog sort by ID then on the
next line by LastName.

Within each ID the names will then sort alphabetically.

 

[Rose]

This does not solve the problem. I need the addresses alphabetically by last
name and family. Any Ideas anyone.

 

[Damian S]

Hi Rose,

To enforce a somewhat random sort order (as you are describing) you will
need to work out a formula that can be applied equally to every record to
achieve what you are after.

For instance, how do you want the Family groups to sort? How do you decide
which family member's surname is the most important (and hence the one you
sort on)? Do you want the first member of the family group to be sorted
alphabetically into the list of singles with other family members below it?
How do we determine this?

You could always do something a bit tricky and group your report into
Family/Single and sort by that first, which will put all family groups
together and all singles together, but this probably isn't what you are after
either...

If you provide answers to the above questions, I am happy to help you work
out a usable formula...

Damian.