RE: "correct" sorting.

That list looks like an ordering that is custom to your application. The
latter sort created by the SQL seems more typical (correct?) to me.

I would return the table unsorted, and write the sorting routine in the
calling code instead.

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-sql-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org
[mailto:pgsql-sql-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org]On Behalf Of Jeff MacDonald
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 9:41 PM
To: pgsql-sql(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: [SQL] "correct" sorting.

Hi folks,

say i have a text field with teh values

1,2,3,10,20,30,1a,1b,2a,2b

and i want to sort it so i get,

1
1a
1b
2
2a
2b
3
10
20
30

is there anyway to do that with postgresql ?
below is what actually happens.

jeff=> select * from foo order by var1;
var1
------
1
10
1a
1b
2
20
2a
2b
3
30
3a
3b
(12 rows)

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