#4482 (ok 4.2.6) Multi-Column sorting (improved user experience)

[Linas Pašviestis]

Hello,

I would like to suggest on a bit changing (current) Multi Column sorting behaviour to the more standart way used by other tools.

Problem with current method:
Most of the time we need to sort by one column only, so this forces us to do double job each time we need to perform sorting by only one column. First I need to hold shift to unbind sorting from the column and only then I am able to sort by desired (one) column.

Suggestion:
Allow us to sort by one column by default. If user needs to do multi-sorting, he would need to hold shift key and click on desired columns. In case you prefer current method more, please give us an option to choose the behaviour we would like to have for Multi Column sorting.

I hope that my suggestion will be heared as this will greatly benefit users experience. Thanks!

• Linas

[Marc Delisle]

I agree with this suggestion.

[Linas Pašviestis]

Is there any schedule when this could be implemented, or is there a way to atleast disable this feature?

[Marc Delisle]

I don't know how to disable this (apart from playing with the code). We'll see if someone from the team is available to implement this.

[Linas Pašviestis]

Either way would greatly enhance usage experience for just simple one column sort, thanks!

[Atul Pratap Singh]

Should we make it like:-

1. On a single click on any column, it forgets the previous order and
   sorts with that single column. And it would remember this.

2. Then using shift+click, one can add/remove columns to/from the sort or modify the sorting order by multiple shift+clicks on a column. And it would remember this. And, on a single click (without shift) again point#1 would happen.

So in effect, we emphasize sorting by single column, and multi-column
would remain in place until a single click is made on any column.

[Linas Pašviestis]

Atul, if this could be implemented like you have pointed out, it would add so much better experience for the sorting part then it's right now!

p.s. (phpMyAdmin 4.2.5) By the way I just noticed that sorting somehow breaks the column rename feature a bit. When I double click on the column name/href the prompt window pops out and is closed right away. Maybe we should disable rename feature on the following DOM element (<th data-column="....">...<a href="sql.php?...."></a></th>) or put this feature under hotkey, etc..

[Atul Pratap Singh]

I have made the required changes to the implementation. Please test current QA_4_2. I modified it to work like following and updated the hints:-

• Click to sort results by a column.
• Shift+Click to add a column to ORDER BY clause or to toggle ASC/DESC.
• Control+Click to remove column from ORDER BY clause.

We may also consider Shift+Control+Click for the last option.

Linas, will look into column rename problem separately, thanks for testing thoroughly :)

[Marc Delisle]

Thanks Atul, this works very well (at least from my tests).

[Marc Delisle]

Ticket moved from /p/phpmyadmin/feature-requests/1530/

[Atul Pratap Singh]

Fixed for 4.2.6.

[Linas Pašviestis]

Atul, thank you for the fast implementation!