Dynamic Sorting on Multiple filed in Crystal report 2008

Question

Hi
  I am using Crystal report 2008 sp3 full build with hotfix 3.3 along with ASP.NET 2.0
  I have implimented the multi filed sorting using the record sort export and setting the sort order in the report designer.
Now my requirement is such that i would like to have dynamic sorting on multiple fileds while report is displayed in the UI.
Means suppose i have a report with Customer region,name,city,rating,status etc.
Now by using the sort control  i would like to have the functionality in such a way that if user
a)  first sorts on the region then the records should be first sorted by region
b)  then sorts on the city then the records should be sorted first by region then by city
c) now sorts on the  rating then the records should be sorted first by region ,second by city and then by rating
Now other user may do
a) first sorts on the rating then the records should be first sorted by rating
b)  then sorts on the status then the records should be sorted first by rating then by status
c) now user sorts on the  region then the records should be sorted first by rating,second by status and then by region
and so on the sorting criteria changes from user to user through the UI.
Is there any way to achieve the dynamic kind of sorting with Crytsal report 2008 where we can set the order of the fileds at sorting in UI dynamically .The sorting order of the fields are not known at the time of design of the report and its completely depends on the user's need.
Please let me know if you require any information on the same.
Regards,
smitha

Answer 1

Hello,
   Good Day!
   Thanks for your answer.
   Could you please explain me in detail how to achieve this functionality?
   Do i need to create a static parameter?
   I  get my data set through the command option in crystal report.So i think i need to go by formula in the report.
   i am just putting down the steps to follow.Please correct me if i am wrong.
  step1 :Create s static parameter with the name SORT.
step2: create the formula as you have mentioned like     
    (IF {?Sort}='Vendor Number' THEN {Pr_Voucher_Status;1.Vendor_Key}& " "& {Pr_Voucher_Status;1.ap_remt_key}
    & " " & {@date}
   else
    IF {?Sort}='Invoice Number' THEN {Pr_Voucher_Status;1.ap_vchr_invno}& " " & {Pr_Voucher_Status;1.Vendor_Key}&
    " " &{@date}
   else
   IF {?Sort}='Invoice Amount' THEN {Pr_Voucher_Status;1.ap_vchr_amtc}& " " & {Pr_Voucher_Status;1.Vendor_Key}&
     " " &{@date})
    I could not  understand what this formula is really doing .
    Could you please tell me what the following names indicates? :
              Pr_Voucher_Status :- Table/Command name ??
              Vendor Number,Invoice Number etc.. :-  ??
             Vendor_Key,ap_vchr_invno,ap_vchr_amtc .. :-  Filed names ??
             use of 1.{} :- ??                              
step3: place the below formula in the page header  to display the sort order
    (if {?SORT}='Vendor Number' then "Vendor Number, Remit To, Invoice Date"
          else if {?SORT}='Invoice Number' then "Invoice Number, Vendor Number, Invoice Date"
          else if {?SORT}='Invoice Amount' then "Invoice Amount, Vendor Number, Invoice Date") .
Note:-My report does not have grouping.Do i need to have grouping?
in this case how the sort control will work  ?
As i have mentioned in the first post the order of sorting is completely depends on the user's perspective .
The report is used by the whole organization ..
i mean the people with different roles like Manger,Team leads,modul leads,developers ,testers etc..
the usage of report varies according to the roles so the sort order also.
Regards,
smitha.
Edited by: smitha thomas on Mar 16, 2011 5:01 AM