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I have some numbers in a column, although I guess they are actually put in the DT as text (I'm not using formatters). So, sorting isn't working, i.e. it's sorting my numbers like this:

0
0
156
111
2
25
67
99

Is there a "number" formatter? Where is the list of formatters? What's the best way to make it sort correctly?

I'm confused because the client-side sorting example uses text as numbers and it sorts correctly...

You need to use a parser in the DataSource so that numbers coming as strings in whichever message format you are using, are converted to numbers. Then, the sort function will sort them as numbers so, for example, you would do:

myDataSource.responseSchema.fields = [ .....
{key:'someNumber',parser:'number'}
];

I find simple column sorting curiously difficult to pull off. One of my problems was having sortedBy in the datatable constructor, which was locking the sort order. I took that out, and then I could sort one of my text-formatted columns correctly.

However, have some number-formatter columns that I can't get sorted like numbers. I've tried all combinations of using number formatters and number parsers, with no luck. The confusing thing is that only my last column is sorting correctly, with formatter: "number" and parser: "number". Other columns with the same combo and same data aren't working. What's going on here?

Finally, I am trying to sort the table when the page loads by using:


This sorts the column "suName," which has a text formatter and a string parser, but the sorting isn't correct or alphabetical.

Please help! Been having these problems for months.

Maybe you can provide a pastie link to your code and some of the data.

We can't help you fix what we can't see!

Okay.

If you read "KOVACS" response earlier in this thread it is right on target. Satyam was also exactly correct.

I'm not sure what framework you are using, but adding data to a DataTable via .addRows is not a very stable and correct approach. I would highly recommend you consider converting it to a via DataSource. Because within DataSource it does all of the conversion and parsing for you. Again, maybe the "framework" you are using won't permit that.

As for using the "sortedBy" configuration parameter, as the above posting says, this parameter only "looks" like the table is sorted, id doesn't actually "perform the sort". It is intended for applications where the DataSource is populated from, for example a SQL query that has an ORDER BY clause and the data arrives already sorted.

Assuming your DataTable is initially unsorted, you can use "sortedBy" to change the initial appearance properly, but you still need to do a .sortColumn after the DT renders to actually conduct the sort. In your case, if you are using .addRow to populate the table, I would recommend you do your .sortColumn call after all of the addRow's are complete.

I worked up a quick live working example that is available at http://jsfiddle.net/UF8Ne/. See if you can follow that and understand where I am coming from.

Todd