Bug in report sorting? Sort doesn't work in last group level.

Question

Is this a known error? Is there documentation from Oracle about it?
My query is a simple select from a table. I then created three group levels. Each group contains a value for sorting (up arrow next to column). However, data is not sorted by the value in the third group.
Try:
create table test_sort (a number, b varchar2(5), c varchar2(5));
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (1, 'A', 'X');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (1, 'B', 'Y');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (1, 'B', 'Z');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (1, 'A', 'Z');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (2, 'A', 'Z');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (2, 'A', 'Y');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (2, 'A', 'X');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (1, 'A', 'Y');
insert into test_sort (a, b, c) values (1, 'B', 'X');
Create a query tabular report with the wizard (select * from test_sort). Then make the groups: first a, then b, then c. Make sure that there is an arrow next to the values (sorting).
The report only displays a and b values sorted.
Edited by: user489847 on Jun 3, 2010 1:19 AM

Answer 1

Hello,
This is the normal behaviour documented here :
http://www.oracle.com/webapps/online-help/reports/10.1.2/topics/htmlhelp_rwbuild_hs/rwcontxt/props/pi_col_break_order.htm
Restrictions
Break Order has no effect on columns that belong to the lowest group of a particular query.
Break Order only affects columns in groups that are above the lowest child group of a query.
You have to add an "ORDER BY" in the SQL query in order to sort the columns belonging to the "lowest group"
Regards