Sorting tables

[cobweb]

Hi there:

I have just posted a thread re sequencing but would follow it with a comment re sorting.

I have found that Access and Approach, when you sort a table, do not actually appear to sort the table at all! I found that exporting the table to a text file appeared to export the table in it original condition - despite attempts to sort.
It was only Paradox that actually sorted the table and allowed me to export the text file in the order I wanted.

Am I just mad or is this true?

 

[Kliot]

Cobweb,

Why does it have to be one or the other? You may be mad and your statement may also be true

I don't know how Access and Approach handle sorting but when you sort a Paradox table the tables order if physically changed. You can also sort a table using a filter and a secondary index that will give the appearance of a sorted table without actually sorting the table, this is usefull when you need to sort a table with a primary index.

Perrin

 

[footpad]

cobweb,

If it is true, I wouldn't be surprised. It may be possible there are commands in the other products that do physically change the record order.

As Perrin points out, sorting and primary indexes do change the physical order of the table in Paradox, but you can change the display order with secondary indexes.

Also, you can use queries to reorder copies of the original tables.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance

 

[cobweb]

It does indeed, thanks to you both. I may speak for us poor unfortunate masses when I believed that Access , when it sorted a table, actually sorted it.
I did find the sortTo method in Paradox and I suppose Access/Approach have similar; but this is more a cautionary tale than a thread!
Thanks again