Sorting crosstab using custom order

Hello, 
 
I have a cross tab that displays data from a scripted dataset. 
The display order of the columns is very important. 
 
 
I have 2 options : 
 
1. Sort the data in the dataset and have the cross tab (and the cube) act as if the data is perordered - Couldn't find this how to do this. 
 
2. Provide a custom Comparator for the sorter on the crosstab object - Couldn't find how to do this as well. 
 
 
This is also not mentioned in the <a class='bbc_url' href='http://wiki.eclipse.org/BIRT/FAQ'>BIRT/FAQ - Eclipsepedia</a> of BIRT. 
 
So the question is: How do I create a crosstab that allows me to sort the columns not by an alphanumeric ascending/descending order ? 
 
 
Thank you, 
Maxim.

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Comments

mwilliams

Hi Maxim,

What would the order that you'd want to sort them by be?

hq4ever

I would define a property called "orderId" and sort them by that order.
Or call a custom comparator that would know how to sort the values.

The reason for this "strange" requirement is because I'm using the cross tab as a "dynamic table" presenting data coming from business logic.

In this case, categories have pre-defined order throughout the system and the requirement is that in the reports the order will be the same rather then sporadic.

hq4ever

To elaborate on the question of "what order it may be"

It is important to understand that I am supplying the order from external source, possibly even external system... which decides on the order of the categories thereof I cannot design any predefined order for the rows/columns.

mwilliams

hq4ever,

Will you be able to create a computed column that can figure a value for that row's placement in the order?

hq4ever

Hello Michael,

Hmmm... I will need to check.
By computed column you mean something that will be generated from the column orders by some degress of logic. I think that a better solution in this case (being this a scripted dataset) is just to return 1 additional column for row ordering + 1 additional column for col ordering because this information is available to me.

Suppose I successful in creating a computed columns for each row & for each column, what do I do next?

If I understand what you are saying I should be sorting by this column but not displaying it in the crosstab. Correct?

mwilliams

hq4ever,

Sorry, I meant just another column. A computed column and creating another column in your scripted dataSet would be the same thing though. Yes, figuring a value for the rows in your dataSet based off of whatever column you're using for your row dimension would be a way to do this. You may have to put the new column value in the crosstab as well, but just hide the data element. I don't know that you can sort a crosstab by a value that is not included in it, this is why I say you may have to hide it.