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  1. #1
    jameshurrell is offline Novice
    Windows XP Access 2007
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    Mar 2011
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    Cannot sort on column contents (Access 2007)

    I have a database but for some reason I cannot use the "sort" option on a specific column in a table. I cannot work out why...



    On one column (FirstName) in the table, i can sort on its contents by clicking the down arrow in the column heading and selecting (Select All), (Blanks), and then all the column entries. See first image attached.

    On the column Surname (which seems to be identical in terms of properties), the contents of the column are not displayed when I click the down arrow in the column heading. See second image attached.

    Any ideas why? Many thanks.

  2. #2
    HiTechCoach's Avatar
    HiTechCoach is offline MS MVP - Access Expert
    Windows 7 Access 2010 (version 14.0)
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    What is the data type of the field in the table?

    Is it a memo field?

  3. #3
    jameshurrell is offline Novice
    Windows XP Access 2007
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    Hi Boyd,

    Many thanks for your reply. Unfortunately not, both fields are simple text fields... which is why this strikes me as odd. The same behaviour can be seen on another unrelated PC.

    Thanks,

  4. #4
    HiTechCoach's Avatar
    HiTechCoach is offline MS MVP - Access Expert
    Windows 7 Access 2010 (version 14.0)
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    Are you trying to do the sort on the actual table or on a form based on a query on the table?

    Have you run compact and repair on the database?

    WARNING: Make sure to do a back up of the database before running the compact and repair!

  5. #5
    jameshurrell is offline Novice
    Windows XP Access 2007
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    All I am doing is:
    - open the table in DataSheet view
    - click the down arrow in the heading of the column entitled "Surname" and expect to see the contents of the column together with check boxes... but I don't.

    I know I can do this type of sort with queries etc, but for a quick and easy fix, I like this feature and I can't understand why it won't work on this particular column.

    I did a Compact and repair to no avail....

    Edit: what I am doing is the same function offered by the "Filter" option on the ribbon (the one with the big funnel icon!).. when I click this option and the focus is on the column in question, I get the same behaviour... (i.e. the contents are not displayed).

  6. #6
    jameshurrell is offline Novice
    Windows XP Access 2007
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    Ah, solved thanks to this post: http://msgroups.net/microsoft.public...rs-not-working

    In Access Options > Current Database > Filter Lookup options (scroll to bottom) > Don't display lists.... This was set to 1000, whereas there were more records than that in the column....

    Thanks for your help in any case....

  7. #7
    HiTechCoach's Avatar
    HiTechCoach is offline MS MVP - Access Expert
    Windows 7 Access 2010 (version 14.0)
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    I never look at a table directly except in design mode. I always use a query to view a table. That is probably why I had this issue.


    Thanks for posting your solution. That is good to know.

    Boyd aka HiTechCoach
    Microsoft Access MVP

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