List (SortOrder function)

Create a composite SortOrder (SortOrder class)

This shared function is a virtual constructor, or factory method, for SortOrders. The List method invokes the creation of a new SortOrder instance, then populates that instance with items from an input list that are themselves SortOrder instances. Designed for specifying multiple sort criteria, the SortOrders in the object that List returns are applied consecutively by the sorting method that uses the SortOrder.

Syntax

%sortOrder = [%(SortOrder For itemType):]List( sortOrderItems)

Syntax terms

%sord

A SortOrder object variable to contain the new object instance.

%(sortorder for itemtype)

This optional specification of the class and collection item type in parentheses indicates that the method is shared and does not operate on a specific instance.

sordlist

A comma-delimited set of SortOrder objects, which may be explicitly specified Ascending/Descending constructors, SortOrder object variables, or another SortOrder List specification. These individual SortOrders are applied to the target collection items in the order they are specified in this argument. If a sortorder like ascending(price) is a single sort criterion, then the maximum number of sort criteria a List call may produce is seven.

Usage notes

• For more information about factory methods, see ?? refid=vconst..
• List is a constructor and as such can be called with no method object, with an explicit class name, or with an object variable, even if that object is null:

      %sord = List(&'italic(sordlist))
      %sord = %(sortorder for float):List(&'italic(sordlist))
      %sord = %sord:List(&'italic(sordlist))
  

Examples

The typical way to use SortOrder lists is in a Sort or SortNew method invocation:

    %orders:sort(%myorder)

Where, for example:

    %myorder = list(ascending(quantity), descending(price))

Since the arguments to the SortOrder List method are also SortOrders, you could also pass the %myorder variable in another List call. The following List statement inserts the %myorder criteria into the middle of two other sort criteria:

    %mynewOrder = list(ascending(length), %myorder, -
                            descending(reverse))

You can even pass a List call within a List call:

    %myorder = list(ascending(change),     -
       list(ascending(quantity), descending (price)))

See also

SortOrder class	List of SortOrder methods	SortOrder methods syntax
Notation conventions for methods