Sort Data in Blazor Grid

• Dec 27, 2023
• 7 minutes to read

The Grid can sort data by multiple columns. The sort glyph indicates the current sort order (ascending or descending).

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The sort algorithm is applicable to data types that implement the IComparable interface. If a column data type does not support this interface, implement a custom sort algorithm.

Sort Data in the UI

The following user operations are available:

• Click a column header to sort data in ascending order and clear sort criteria for all other columns. Subsequent clicks reverse the sort order.
• Hold Shift and click column headers to sort data by multiple columns.
• Hold Ctrl and click a column header to clear sorting by this column.

If keyboard navigation is enabled, users can focus a column header and press Space, Shift+Space, or Ctrl+Space to change sort settings. Refer to the following topic for more information on keyboard shortcuts: Keyboard Support in Blazor Grid.

You can use the following properties to prohibit end-user data sorting operations:

DxGrid.AllowSort

Specifies whether users can sort grid data.

DxGridDataColumn.AllowSort

Specifies whether users can sort data by the current column.

The code sample below demonstrates how to sort data by the ContactName column and prevent users from clearing sort settings:

<DxGrid Data="Data" >
    <Columns>
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="ContactName" SortIndex="0" AllowSort="false" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="CompanyName" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="City" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Region" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Country" />
    </Columns>
</DxGrid>

Sort Data in Code

Specify Initial Sort Settings

You can use the following properties to specify a data column’s initial sort settings:

SortOrder

Specifies the column’s sort order (ascending or descending).

SortIndex

Specifies the column’s index among sorted columns. If the property is set to -1, the grid data is not sorted by this column.

<DxGrid Data="countryInfo">
    <Columns>
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Country" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Population" 
                          SortIndex="0" 
                          SortOrder="GridColumnSortOrder.Descending" />
    </Columns>
</DxGrid>

Sort Data at Runtime

You can sort grid data at runtime in the following ways:

• Use a column’s SortIndex property to specify whether the column takes part in sorting and at which level.
  Note that you need to enclose your code between BeginUpdate and EndUpdate method calls to change values of Grid component parameters outside the Grid component markup. Otherwise, an exception occurs.

  var column = Grid.GetDataColumns().First(i => i.FieldName == "Country");
  Grid.BeginUpdate();
  column.SortIndex = 0;
  column.SortOrder = GridColumnSortOrder.Descending;
  Grid.EndUpdate();
  

• Call SortBy methods.

  Grid.SortBy("Counrty");
  Grid.SortBy("City", GridColumnSortOrder.Descending);
  Grid.SortBy("CompanyName", GridColumnSortOrder.Descending, 2);
  

Clear Sorting at Runtime

You can clear data sorting in the following ways:

• Call the ClearSort() method to clear all active sort criteria.
• Set a column’s SortIndex property to -1 to exclude the column from active sort criteria. Note that you need to enclose your code between BeginUpdate and EndUpdate method calls to change values of Grid component parameters outside the Grid component markup. Otherwise, an exception occurs.
• Call the SortBy(String, GridColumnSortOrder, Int32) method and pass -1 as the sortIndex parameter to exclude the specified column from active sort criteria.

Note

A grouped column is always sorted. If you clear column sorting, the Grid ungroups the column.

Sort Data by Value or Display Text

The Grid sorts column data by values unless the column editor is a combo box with specified text and value field names. In the latter case, the Grid sorts column data by display text strings.

Set a column’s SortMode property to Value or DisplayText to switch between sort modes.

<DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Country" SortMode="GridColumnSortMode.DisplayText">

Note

The Grid does not support sorting data by display text when you use a Server Mode data source or GridDevExtremeDataSource.

Custom Sorting

The Grid allows you to apply a custom sorting algorithm to column data. Follow the steps below to implement this functionality:

1. Set a column’s SortMode property to Custom.
2. Handle the CustomSort event to implement custom sorting logic. The event allows you to compare two rows and specify the comparison result. You can use Value1 and Value2 properties to compare row values in the processed column or call GetRow1Value(String) and GetRow2Value(String) methods to get row values in other columns.
3. Set the Handled property to true to indicate that the current comparison operation is handled.

Note

The Grid does not support custom sorting when you use a Server Mode data source or GridDevExtremeDataSource.

The code sample below demonstrates how to sort the Country column by country population.

<DxGrid Data="countryInfo" CustomSort="Grid_CustomSort" >
    <Columns>
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Country" SortMode="GridColumnSortMode.Custom" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Population" />
    </Columns>
</DxGrid>

@code {
    CountryInfo[]? countryInfo;
    protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync() {
        countryInfo = await CountryInfo.GetData();
    }
    void Grid_CustomSort(GridCustomSortEventArgs e) {
        if(e.FieldName == "Country") {
            var population1 = (int)e.GetRow1Value("Population");
            var population2 = (int)e.GetRow2Value("Population");
            e.Result = population1.CompareTo(population2);
            e.Handled = true;
        }
    }
}

Limitations

The Grid has the following limitations when you use a Server Mode data source or GridDevExtremeDataSource:

• Custom sorting is not supported.
• Sorting data by display text is not supported.
• A data sorting operation cancels any “select all” or “deselect all” operation in progress.

Related API

This section contains a comprehensive sorting-related API reference.

Grid API member	Type	Description
AllowSort	Property	Specifies whether users can sort grid data.
ClearSort()	Method	Clears sorting.
GetSortedColumns()	Method	Gets the collection of sorted columns.
SortBy	Method	Sorts data by column values.
CustomSort	Event	Allows you to implement custom logic used to sort data in the grid.

Column API member	Type	Description
AllowSort	Property	Specifies whether users can sort data by the current column.
SortIndex	Property	Specifies the column’s index among sorted columns. If the property is set to -1, the grid data is not sorted by this column.
SortMode	Property	Specifies how the Grid sorts column data (by values, by display text, or custom logic is used).
SortOrder	Property	Specifies the column’s sort order (ascending or descending).
SortIndexChanged	Event	Fires when the column’s sort index changes.
SortOrderChanged	Event	Fires when the column’s sort order changes.

Task-Based Examples

This section contains code samples that demonstrate data sorting functionality.

Get Sorted Columns

Call the GetSortedColumns() method to get a collection of sorted columns. Note that grouped columns are always sorted and have the highest sort priority. Therefore, the Grid maintains grouped columns at the beginning of the sorted column collection.

IEnumerable<IGridDataColumn> sortedColumns = Grid.GetSortedColumns();

Sort Groups by Other Column Values

When you group data by a field, the Grid sorts all data by this field as well. You can handle the CustomSort event to implement custom sorting logic for a column.

In the code sample below, Group column values are sorted according to ImportanceValue field values.

<DxGrid Data="Data" ShowGroupPanel="true" CustomSort="Grid_CustomSort">
    <Columns>
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="GroupName" Caption="Group" GroupIndex="0"
                          SortMode="GridColumnSortMode.Custom" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Name" SortIndex="1" />
        <DxGridDataColumn FieldName="Value" />
    </Columns>
</DxGrid>

@code {
    object Data { get; set; }

    protected override void OnInitialized() {
        Data = new List<MyData> {
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 1, GroupName = "High", Name = "Item1", Value = "Value1" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 3, GroupName = "Low", Name = "Item5", Value = "Value5" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 1, GroupName = "High", Name = "Item6", Value = "Value6" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 2, GroupName = "Normal", Name = "Item4", Value = "Value4" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 2, GroupName = "Normal", Name = "Item2", Value = "Value2" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 3, GroupName = "Low", Name = "Item8", Value = "Value8" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 1, GroupName = "High", Name = "Item3", Value = "Value3" },
            new MyData { ImportanceValue = 2, GroupName = "Normal", Name = "Item7", Value = "Value7" }
        };
    }
    void Grid_CustomSort(GridCustomSortEventArgs e) {
        if(e.FieldName == "GroupName") {
            var val1 = (int)e.GetRow1Value("ImportanceValue");
            var val2 = (int)e.GetRow2Value("ImportanceValue");
            e.Result = val1.CompareTo(val2);
            e.Handled = true;
        }
    }
    class MyData {
        public int ImportanceValue { get; set; }
        public string GroupName { get; set; }
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public string Value { get; set; }
    }
}