# SortElement

A sort definition consisting of an expression and sort direction.

### Description

Report sorting and group sorting is defined as a series of column, sort direction pairs. Each pair is a Sort Criteria structure.

### See Also

## key

An expression that gives the sort key on which to sort.

### Description

An expression that gives the sort key on which to sort. The simplest case is the name of a column. The expression can also be an expression that includes columns. When used for a group, the expression can contain an aggregate computed over the group.

Expressions that include only a column name are candidates for "pushing" into the data set. However, sort keys that are expressions must be evaluated within BIRT, and so the sorting itself must occur within BIRT.

### See Also

## direction

The sort direction: Ascending (the default) or Descending.

### Choices

- asc: Sort values from lowest to highest.
- desc: Sort values from highest to lowest.

### Description

The sort direction: Ascending (the default) or Descending.

### See Also

## locale

The locale for this sort.

### Description

The locale for this sort.

## strength

The strength of this sort collation.

### Description

The strength of this sort collation. The default value is -1.

### See Also