Correct ordering

You can do that in a query with

Order By
    Left([DoorCode], 2),
    Val("9" & Mid([DoorCode], 3))

/gustav

Isn't this the correct required output?
adesc
AA001162
AA12345
AAAAAAA
AABBBBB
AAZZZZZ
B1.2
B1.12
C2
C10
D2
D10

I will try that Gustav

Hnasr
Actually that would more than suffice.
Ideally
 B1.2 should come after
 B1.12

But what you have is much better than what I get

Input:
Table a (aid, adesc)
aID      adesc
01      AA001162
02      AAAAAAA
03      AABBBBB
04      AAZZZZZ
05      AA12345
06      B1.2
07      B1.12
08      C10
09      C2
10      D10
11      D2

Required Output:
aID      adesc
01      AA001162
05      AA12345
02      AAAAAAA
03      AABBBBB
04      AAZZZZZ
06      B1.2
07      B1.12
09      C2
08      C10
11      D2
10      D10

Process:
Adding a function in modules.
Convert each numeric piece to a 10 digit string by adding 0's to beginning of number.
Rejoin strings and sort.

Query:

SELECT a.aID, a.adesc
FROM a
ORDER BY finedAlphaNumeric([adesc]);

Select allOpen in new window

sort-alpha-numeric.accdb

A solution is not possible if you neither can define nor decide how to sort.

/gustav

Gustav

You cannot decide what sorting system you need when you do not know and when your customer does not know what he is going to get from his customer. It is simply a case of getting the best guess. Or perhaps just something better than the standard access stuff.

Hnasr

I cannot open your file I am still on Access 2002. Can you convert it please.

Dale

I will give that a try. Rushing to finish something this week!!!

It is simply a case of getting the best guess.

Well, then my straight solution is the best, simple as it is. It fulfills your example data and sorting.

/gustav

My comment was based on this challenging requirement:

customer can enter door numbers with any alpha numeric combination, inc decimal points anywhere. So writing code or a function may be too much


https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28979884/Orderby-function.html?anchorAnswerId=41867276#a41867276

Although it handles the simple ABC123 entry, I may assume entries like,
adesc
A1B2C3D
A01X
A2
2A
2A10
A10
Which sorts to:
adesc
2A
2A10
A1B2C3D
A01X
A2        
A10

Brilliant Guys. Thank you

How do I sort using these functions as "Desc"

ARe you talking to me?
 
ORDER BY StripTrailingNumbers([yourField]), TrailingNumbers([yourField]) DESC

or if you want the Alpa part descending as well

ORDER BY StripTrailingNumbers([yourField]) DESC, TrailingNumbers([yourField]) DESC

Descending order:

SELECT a.aID, a.adesc, findAlphaNumeric([adesc])
FROM a
ORDER BY findAlphaNumeric([adesc]) DESC;

Select allOpen in new window

Modified function to properly sort entries such as 01X, and 1A .
-sort-alpha-numeric-2.mdb

Brilliant. Thank you.

Derek

Welcome!