Use the sort dialog with the named database range. The sort settings are stored. After inserting new rows or editing rows, menu:Data>Refresh restores the last applied sort order.
The quick sort buttons don’t recognize any database ranges.
Alternatively, insert a row of column headers, so the quick sort buttons to the right thing when they detect a header row. They do so when the first row is filled with text without numbers nor blanks.
there are no define ranges
quickSort.ods (17.7 KB) (spreadsheet with StarBasic library and custom toolbar “Quick Sort”)
The macro sorts the database range at the active cell by the column where the active cell is reading if the db range is defined with column headers or not. The 2 first buttons on the toolbar trigger that job sorting the text-only db ranges in column A and C properly.
If there is no database range at the active cell, the macro calls the built-in quick sort command which may fail to detect headers properly. This works properly with columns E and G because there are numeric values to be sorted.
Column I fails to sort properly because it is text-only with header, but with no db range where the header is declared.
I don’t know how to replicate this issue since the other sheets (in the same file) do not do this
there are no defined ranges
Refreshing does nothing.
I used to have a header row but I removed it since it gave me way more problems since it will sort itself even though it was frozen to the first row
Recreate that header row, define a db range with that header row being declared and everything should work satisfactory as long as you do not use the built-in quick sort buttons and as long as you don’t have overlapping db ranges.
The best way to organize row sets in LibreOffice is a true database.
What “row of information”?
Who is “it”?
Only starting rows/columns can be frozen. Having set a freeze, the situation is clearly shown by horizontal/vertical lines.
Since there was a lot of confusion in this thread, I still suspect that the hint concerning the option Range contains column labels under Sort Options in the respective dialog was misunderstood or disregarded.
The specific row of information that is placing itself on the 1st row whenever the sheet is being sorted.
The program itself.
Should have specified that, though it’s an off-topic gripe.
A shot in the dark:
I assume that you use the A-Z/Z-A toolbar icons. Calc will often assume that your sort range contains a heading row. This corresponds to @Villeroy’s comment about defining a named range.
If that is indeed the cause of your troubles …
If you select menu item Data - Sort first, and untick the “contains column headings” entry, this setting may stick on subsequent sorts. I find that it sometimes does, also when you use the toolbar icons, and sometimes it does not. My guess is that your adding an identical row may have convinced Calc that “This is data, not a heading”.
A better solution, which only requires a few additional clicks in the first setup, is to use the named range as explained by @Villeroy. That should make the headings setting persistent, also after you save/reopen.
Unless you click A-Z/Z-A which ignores the defined ranges.
Opposite complaint, same problems: How do I sort rows without including first row? - #19 by Villeroy
And that still looks like a bug to me… unless there was some reason due to unfounded user expectations.
I doubt that this is a bug. I’d rather suspect that it is implemented this way.
Well, the implementation may be wrong and simply omitting to consider a defined range’s row of column headers.
That didn’t work however I notice something new & odd is happening that kind of works as a fix.
If I sort on column A: the row is still on the top spot.
If I then sort on column B: same thing happens
If I then sort on column C: sorting works
If I then go back to sorting on column B: sorting works
& then if I sort on column A again: sorting works
The correct sorting of either column A or B only works if I first sort column C.
If do you need to know what happens in your document, share a copy of it, annonymizing the data.
This is getting weirder & weirder, but now the issue is no longer present.
All rows are now properly sorting themselves.
The extension installs an advanced version of the macro code I introduced in this thread. It comes with a 2-button toolbar without touching the existing user interface.
The macro detects a database range at the active cell and handles most of the properties of that database range and any existing sort descriptor of that database range where this forum’s code handled column labels only. The only disregarded sort options are “copy sort results” and “sort columns” which would be rather confusing.
When there is no database range at the active cell, the code dispatches the built-in sort command. The built-in command selects the sort range after sorting, keeping the position of the active cell. My own code does not change the selection because I don’t know how to keep the position of the active cell within a range selection. A jumping cell cursor is rather confusing in this context.