Tip #94 - How to Sort Using Multiple Columns on a Grid

In Excel, you can sort by using multiple levels on a spreadsheet. SmartAdvocate also provides this functionality, allowing you to sort by multiple levels for items displayed in a grid on many of the system’s pages.
 
Here is an example of the My Cases Dashboard.  It shows a list of all the open cases that are assigned to me. The dashboard automatically sorts the cases in numerical order by case number.

I would prefer, however, to have the list sorted by Case Type and then by Case Sub-Type. That way, I could have all my Auto Accident cases listed together, as well as all the Rear End collision cases grouped together, the Left Turn cases grouped together, etc. Additionally, I want all my Actos cases listed together, then grouped by Bladder Cancer, Liver Damage, etc. 
 
To sort by multiple levels, first click the column heading for the main sorting. In our example below, we would first click the Case Type column heading. This would sort our list by Case Type in alphabetical order.

Next, we want to further sort the list by Case Sub-Types. To do this, simply hold down the shift key, then click the Case Sub-Types column heading. Now, our list will have all cases of a specific type listed together and then further sorted by the Case Sub-Types.

For additional sorting by a third, fourth, fifth level, etc., simply hold down the shift key and click the respective column(s) in order.

This “multi-level sorting” can be used on all pages with grids such as the Notes, Documents, Emails, Medical Providers, Liens and Disbursements pages and on Dashboards such as My Cases, Tasks, Intake Performance and Overdue.