Sorting Multiple Fields in Access

I have a membership database that I need to be able to sort by multiple
fields and merge into a Microsoft Word document for postal sorting purposes.
I need to be able to sort by my own set postal code (not same as zip code)
and then by zip code. I can do this in the table if i move the postal code
field to the left of the zip code field then select both and sort but once I
select recipients and it brings up a recipients table, the sort order is
different. I can then only sort by PostalCode field OR ZipCode field. I've
tried to figure out other ways to accomplish what I need by using queries and
even creating new tables but once I merge the sort order has changed. How can
I sort by one field then another then even another if necessary when I merge?

Thanks in advance for any help.

The order your fields appear in the SELECT clause doesn't have to be the same
as the order your fields appear in the ORDER BY clause.
--
Duane Hookom
Microsoft Access MVP


"Ladypep13" wrote:

I have a membership database that I need to be able to sort by multiple
fields and merge into a Microsoft Word document for postal sorting purposes.
I need to be able to sort by my own set postal code (not same as zip code)
and then by zip code. I can do this in the table if i move the postal code
field to the left of the zip code field then select both and sort but once I
select recipients and it brings up a recipients table, the sort order is
different. I can then only sort by PostalCode field OR ZipCode field. I've
tried to figure out other ways to accomplish what I need by using queries and
even creating new tables but once I merge the sort order has changed. How can
I sort by one field then another then even another if necessary when I merge?

Thanks in advance for any help.

On Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:27:01 -0700, Ladypep13
wrote:

I have a membership database that I need to be able to sort by multiple
fields and merge into a Microsoft Word document for postal sorting purposes.
I need to be able to sort by my own set postal code (not same as zip code)
and then by zip code. I can do this in the table if i move the postal code
field to the left of the zip code field then select both and sort but once I
select recipients and it brings up a recipients table, the sort order is
different. I can then only sort by PostalCode field OR ZipCode field. I've
tried to figure out other ways to accomplish what I need by using queries and
even creating new tables but once I merge the sort order has changed. How can
I sort by one field then another then even another if necessary when I merge?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Are you trying to do the mail merge *with a table*? If so, don't! Tables have
no defined sort order.

Instead create a Query sorting by as many fields as you wish... and base the
mail merge on the Query. By going into SQL view you can, as Duane says, select
fields in one order for the mail merge and sort in some other order.
--

John W. Vinson [MVP]

"John W. Vinson" wrote:
....

Instead create a Query sorting by as many fields as you wish... and base the
mail merge on the Query. By going into SQL view you can, as Duane says, select
fields in one order for the mail merge and sort in some other order.
--

John W. Vinson [MVP]

Or DONT go into the SQL view (For a novice 95% of what you need to do in a
query can be done in the GUI - and who wants to type when you can use a few
mouse clicks)

If you need the fields in a specific order you can do that and then add the
fields you wish to sort with at the end, in the order that you wish to sort
them. Just uncheck the show box so you don't duplicate names.

After you save this at least one of the sortings (*) will be put under the
actual field. And if you did it in the SQL view you would see the same result.

Craig

* For my AR side - unless you use a compound entry as the first sorting
group.