Sorting a Group on another Field 1

[TEM3]

Using Crystal Reports 8.5:

I have assignment numbers as a group. One of the fields listed is the age of the assignment in days. Instead of the group sorting by the Group Field (assignment number), I would like the group listing to sort by age (oldest to youngest). Is there a way to sort the group listing on other than the group named field?

 

[lupins46]

Use the TopN/GroupSort Expert to sort all the groups.

 

[TEM3]

I just attempted to use TopN/GroupSort Expert and found it grayed out (unavailable). Wonder why??

 

[lupins46]

I guess it means that you do not have a summary value for the group. Put in a summary based on the Age (Maximum will do, I guess). You will then be able to sort on this.

 

[Madawc]

TEM3, in case you don't know the difference between summary totals and running totals, here are the basics.

There are several ways to find totals: running totals, summary totals and variables. Right-click on a field and choose Insert to get a choice of Running Total or Summary. Or else use the Field Explorer, the icon that is a grid-like box, to add running totals.

It is also possible to get get totals using a Formula Field, which can contain a Variable or a Directly Calculated Total.

Running totals allow you to do clever things with grouping and formulas. They also accumulate for each line, hence the name. The disadvantage is that they are working out at the same time as the Crystal report formats the line. You cannot test for their values until after the details have been printed. You can show them in the group footer but not the group header, where they will be zero if you are resetting them for each group.

Summary totals are cruder, but are based directly on the data. This means that they can be shown in the header. They can also be used to sort groups, or to suppress them. Suppress a group if it has less than three members, say. They default to 'Grand Total', but also can be for a group.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK)