I have a field in my db called RctID. It's a calc field with number result. I'd like the db to always sort using it as the primary followed by Last name & First name so that duplicate records are thrown to the end of the db. This works beautifully until I quit then reopen. The sort order retains Last and First (even when there are no current records except a blank one) but RcdID is gone (even though it has an assigned number in the blank record). I don't want users to have to open the sort window and select the RcdID every time. Is there a reason why it won't retain the sort order leading with a calculation number field?

Would changing it to a number field set to auto enter a serial # solve my sort problem? What am I missing?

What you're missing is that FileMaker defaults to creation order. In order for the database to open up sorted you will need to create a sort script with the order you desire and make this script run at startup. Scripts can be set to run on startup by going to the Edit Menu, Preferences, Document. -bd

You're right that it was a scripting problem but not the startup script. I had already established the new sort order for startup. It turns out there was a sort script attached to the backup 'save copy' in our shutdown script. I'd completely forgotten about it and so the db was sorting back to Last Name, First Name at each shutdown. Everything's cleared up now and working like a charm. Thanks for all your help.