I am yet updating an older database. One of the functions is a top 5 list. Where it has a city, a number field (to be sorted by) and some other field I don't understand .

Anyway, the 5 of each fields are separte (not repeating, the is one of those times I wish the person did use repeating fields) for a total of 15 fields. Right now they sort them by hand, and want it automated.

Problem 1: The data that is in these fields is copied out a paper report, there is no database to relate this to and have a sorted portal.

Problem 2: they are not in repeating fields, I can't use an old fashion sorting routie (like a bubble sort or something), and i don't really want to change them to repeating fields due to backward compatibity (you can't import into repeating fields)

Problem 3: It wouldn't make sense to copy the values into a new database then sort them and then copy them back....... or is it???

Looks to me like you want to define a new table somewhere else. I don't know where these numbers and stuff come from, but why not, for backwards compatibility, when you bring in old data, just have it do an export of each field to records in a seperate database of topcities or whatever? That way you can just do a nice, friendly sort.