> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://community-test.logicnets.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://community-test.logicnets.com/release-9/platform-documentation/process-node-parts/sort-collection.md).

# Sort Collection

## Description

The sort collection part allows application users to sort a collection.

## Use

The sort collection part can be used for sorting a collection in ascending or descending oder. The result of this sort can also be put into an new data object. The sort\_collection part is located in process nodes under *collections* and then *sort collection* on the *Element* tab.

## Editor Fields

| Field            | Type / Options     | <p>Optional/<br>Mandatory</p> | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| ---------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Input            | data object        | M                             | This is the name of the collection you want to sort.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| Item type        | Simple\|Complex    | M                             | <p><strong>Simple:</strong> Select this option if the items in the collection are number, text, or date types.<br><strong>Complex:</strong> Select this option if the items in the collection are tables.<br>For complex item types, it is possible to specify multiple fields for sorting. If sorting two items with the same value, the system will compare the next field. If a field is missing the system will treat the field as having a nil value.</p> |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| Output           | data object        | M                             | This is the name of the resulting collection that contains the sorted collection. This can also be the same as the input data object.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| Data type        | text\|number\|date | C                             | This is where you seelct the data type of the sorting column.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| Output direction | asc\|desc          | C                             | This option allows you to select the sorting direction.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| Date format      | text               | C                             | If the data type is date, this field appears and allows you to specify the format of the date field.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                          |      |                                                                                                                          |
| Order by         | table              | C                             | <p>If item type is complex:<br><strong>Order by</strong>: This is the name of the collection column on which the system will sort.<br><strong>Direction:</strong> This option allows you to select the sort direction -- the options are asc                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | desc, and the default is asc.<br><strong>Data type</strong>: This option is where you select the data type of the sorting column. The choices are number | text | date.<br><strong>Date format</strong>: If data type is date, this is where you specify the format of the date field.</p> |

## Example

Please download and import the following [example project](/release-9/example-gallery/example-projects-for-parts/sort-collection-example-project.md) in your workspace.

This example shows the usage of the sort collection part for both simple and complex item types.


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