---
title: "system.dataset.sort"
description: "Sorts a dataset and returns the sorted dataset."
---

# system.dataset.sort

> Sorts a dataset and returns the sorted dataset.

This function is used in **Python Scripting**.

## Description
Sorts a dataset and returns the sorted dataset. This works on numeric, as well as alphanumeric columns. It will go character by character, going from 0-9, A-Z, a-z.

## Client Permission Restrictions
This scripting function has no [Client Permission](projects\project-properties\project-properties.md#client---permissions) restrictions.

## Syntax
`system.dataset.sort(dataset, keyColumn [, ascending])`

### Parameters
Type | Parameter | Description 
------- | ------- | ------
Dataset | `dataset` | The dataset to sort.
int | `keyColumn` | The index or column name of the column to sort on.
boolean | `ascending` | True for ascending order, False for descending order. If omitted, ascending order will be used.[ optional ]
PyObject | `value` | The new value for the specified row/column.

### Returns
**Dataset** - A new sorted dataset.

### Scope
All

## Code Examples
```python title="Example 1"
# This code will take the data in a table component, sort it based on the column with index 1,
# and then reinsert the sorted data into the same table.
 
data = event.source.parent.getComponent('Table').data
newData = system.dataset.sort(data, 1)
event.source.parent.getComponent('Table').data = newData
```
```python title="Example 2"
# This code will create a dataset in scripting, and then sort it based on the name of one of the columns.
# It then inserts the sorted dataset into a table component.
 
headers = ["City", "Population", "Timezone", "GMTOffset"]
data = []
  
data.append(["New York", 8363710, "EST", -5])
data.append(["Los Angeles", 3833995, "PST", -8])
data.append(["Chicago", 2853114, "CST", -6])
data.append(["Houston", 2242193, "CST", -6])
data.append(["Phoenix", 1567924, "MST", -7])
  
cities = system.dataset.toDataSet(headers, data)
newData = system.dataset.sort(cities, "City")
event.source.parent.getComponent('Table').data = newData
```