Comments on: Slightly more dynamic ORDER BY in SQL Server 2005

By: SandraMillhouse

SandraMillhouse — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:02:53 +0000

This is indeed a better way to order a column. Still, the difference isn't that big so I don't see why anyone should bother. Or maybe the difference is noticeable in a very large database.
Sandra @ Cheap VPS

By: public records

public records — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:38:27 +0000

Slightly more dynamic ORDER BY in SQL Server. Hey Jeff, thanks for the link. I originally developed this method for use with pretty.

By: Miguel_TX

Miguel_TX — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:51:28 +0000

I forgot to mention that this way should also work in SQL Server 2000 for anyone still using that.

By: Miguel_TX

Miguel_TX — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:47:28 +0000

I just tried this way of sorting and for the query I was running (a very big one) it took twice as long to run than it did with my own dynamic sorting.

Everyone, please use this instead - it's faster when it counts:
ORDER BY
(CASE WHEN @CustomerTypeID = 1 THEN FirstName END),
(CASE WHEN @CustomerTypeID = 1 THEN LastName END),
(CASE WHEN @CustomerTypeID = 2 THEN LastName END),
(CASE WHEN @CustomerTypeID = 2 THEN FirstName END),
(CASE WHEN @CustomerTypeID = 3 THEN LastName END) DESC,
(CASE WHEN @CustomerTypeID = 3 THEN FirstName END) DESC

I ask that the author of this post (John Sheehan) try it and update this post with his findings if he finds that it works better. Thank you.

I can't take credit for this way of doing it as I found it months ago on another posting - but I can't remember where.

- Miguel_TX

By: Miguel_TX

Miguel_TX — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:51:28 +0000

I forgot to mention that this way should also work in SQL Server 2000 for anyone still using that.

By: Miguel_TX

Miguel_TX — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:47:28 +0000

By: John Sheehan

John Sheehan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:02:09 +0000

Sorry, I don't know off hand. Try stackoverflow.com

By: li

li — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:00:34 +0000

How can I use

ORDER BY
CASE @AccountOperator
WHEN '>' THEN UserLastName
END ASC,
CASE @AccountOperator
WHEN '<' THEN UserFirstName
END DESC

when UserLastName is an alias?(without using sub query)

By: Alexander

Alexander — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:49:41 +0000

Great work, thanks!

By: Mab

Mab — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:50:16 +0000

Thanks for the article.
Just a quick question. Is it possible to write this dynamic Order By with DISTINCT, as I am getting error with DISTINCT in my select statement.