I have a layout with a portal that displays all the records using a [x] self join. I want to be able to sort the portal using buttons on the layout above each portal field (to mimic a table- like layout). How would i script it so that the buttons can sort the portal and toggle between ascending and descending?

I was able to use the technique in JMO's Filemaker Advisor article "Sort FileMaker Pro Portals without Scripts or Calculations." Basically it uses a tab control for every sort option. Very creative solution, never would have thought of it! Thanks!

okay, JMO, help me out on this one. this works wonderfully, except that i cannot get the arrow graphics to stay. they only appear when the tab is the active tab. any ideas?

I don't have a copy of your file so can't say for sure what is wrong. You can download the example file on my web site:

http://www.filemakerpros.com/LessSort.zip

This is the original version sent to me by Minh who came up with the idea.

However, I made some slight modifications to the technique in regards to the graphics showing in the tabs and prefer my method. From my testing, it allows the graphics to move with the tabs if they change size with a cross-platform font difference. So, here is the file I used with the tip I wrote for Advisor (attached to this post).

TABSORT.FP7.zip