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Sorting tasks in a customized fashion (for the due date column)

The way I want to sort my tasks is the following:
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The sorting order is:

PRIORITY first, then
DUE DATE second

For Priority, I can get that working fine (sort from highest importance to lowest, which works fine)

But I want to sort the due dates like the following:
- dated items first, then undated items after
- dated items are sorted by earliest date first, latest date last

Of course they are grouped within their specified priority groups (high, normal, low) first.

You can see how it looks NOW for me: http://www.garywk.com/screenshots/tasks.png
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How can I do this?

VolleyTom

First, it's always good to specify the version of Outlook you are using just for reference.

Anyway, I'm using Outlook 2002 and after sorting on Priority, I right-click on the header bar and choose Customize Current View. Then choose Due Date as the secondary sort. It works for me even when I set my normally US date computer up for Euro style dates like you're apparently using. View / Current View / Customize Current View will also get you there.

Another option is to use Customer Current View to GROUP by Priority and then SORT by Due Date. This gives the same effect but may be a little more useful to you.

Save whichever approach you like to a new names View.

VolleyTom

Oops, make that Customize Current View in the 3rd paragraph.

Chopianissima

ASKER

I'm using Outlook 2003.

The methods you suggested I have done before, and yet 'None' still shows up before the dates do, but I want the 'None' items to show up AFTER the dates do.

VolleyTom

Like this? Works for me...

http://geldner.com/filez/outlookview.gif

Try this in case we're talking apples & oranges for some reason.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=197919

Again, what version of Outlook are you using?

Tom

Chopianissima

ASKER

Looks like your dates are in reversed order; in your screenshot, you have latest at the top and earliest at the bottom, but I want the earliest at the top instead.

I already told you what version of Outlook I'm using; Outlook 2003, as mentionned in the post above yours.

VolleyTom

Sorry, it was 1:00 in the morning when I posted that. Couldn't sleep. Anyway, now I get what you're trying to do. The only way I can see of doing what you want to do is to simply put in a Due Date that is at some ridculous time in the future or use a filter to hide the Nones while you look at those with due dates.

Chopianissima

ASKER

The best idea I had was just to give everything a due date; but still, pretty stupid; this setup isn't very smart, in that, items with due dates are generally more important than those without.

VolleyTom

OK, here's another idea. Use a category or a user field to identify appointments WITH dates. Then GROUP on priority, SORT level 1 on the user field, SORT level 2 on the due date. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

http://geldner.com/filez/outlookview2.gif

Due is a custom field set as a logical field displayed as an Icon (check box). You do not have to display it in the table view but it can still be used for sorting.

You can add this field to a custom form based on the Outlook task form.

Chopianissima

ASKER

So 'Due' is the mandatory field I need to add right?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

VolleyTom

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