How to create User-Defined "Sort" functionality?

[dmontano]

I have a button bar where one of the segments is a Popover Button called "Sort".

Once the "Sort" popover is activated, the User is presented with 3 buttons in which to choose from (see screenshot):

• (#1) Sort - Default Order (I define this sort in the script based on what I believe is the most helpful to Users.)
• (#2) Sort - User Defined Order (Script I currently have is "Sort Record (Dialog On)" 
• (#3) Unsort (I simply use the "Unsort Record" script step.)

Button #1 and #3 are fine.

What I need help with is button #2.
If I use the Script (Sort Records - Dialog On) (see screenshot), the User is presented with dialog that is not user friendly. This dialog also does not provide an easy way for any User to select a field from a related table as part of the sort criteria.

Is there a way that I can present a list of fields that I know would be relevant for a User to sort on; then allow a User to select which fields and whether each field is ascending or descending?

Any help is appreciated.

[comment]

There are actually 2 built-in methods to allow users to create their own sort order:

1. Give them access to the Sort Records dialog. True, this can be somewhat confusing to less experienced users, esp. since they will see a lot of fields that are irrelevant to their task (and may have cryptic names). You may be able to reduce this confusion by denying users access to these fields; once you do that, the fields will not be listed in the dialog box.

2. In Table view, users can click column headings to sort records by one or more fields:
https://help.claris.com/en/pro-help/content/data-in-table-view.html

If neither of these methods is suitable, I would suggest you consider very carefully if you really need a completely dynamic solution that allows the users to select any combination of fields and directions (and how much time and effort you are willing to invest in this). In most cases, users only need to choose from a small set of "pre-wired" sort orders such as your "default" one.

 

Edited June 21 by comment

[dmontano]

Hi Comment, thank you for the explanation. 

4 hours ago, comment said:

I would suggest you consider very carefully if you really need a completely dynamic solution that allows the users to select any combination of fields and directions (and how much time and effort you are willing to invest in this).

I will abandon my desire for this functionality.

 

4 hours ago, comment said:

In most cases, users only need to choose from a small set of "pre-wired" sort orders such as your "default" one.

I will choose to build a few "default" sort orders based on what I think at the time are useful. 

 

4 hours ago, comment said:

2. In Table view, users can click column headings to sort records by one or more fields:
https://help.claris.com/en/pro-help/content/data-in-table-view.html

This seems like a great idea, but I have re-discovered issues with table view "behavior" that presents problems:

1.  I am unable to edit records in table view. I am logged-in with full access. I believe this is related to my "stacked" pop-up fields. In my form view, I often stack a browse popup field on top of a find popup field and display each based on a hide condition. And since you enlightened me previously that table view uses only "one" instance of a field - it makes table view not as simple as providing access to it unless perhaps I make a dedicated layout for table view, but it will still have the one field "constraint".

Reference: https://fmforums.com/topic/109846-table-view-value-list-problem-i-need-to-display-values-from-first-field-instead-of-values-from-second-field/

If I provide access to a table view, it really should be for more than just "sort" capability: it should provide the ability to create, edit, and delete records? Maybe not, perhaps just sort functionality and perhaps a list view for the create, edit, delete bits? I'm rambling now....

Once again, thank you very much!