Metadata Sorter

The Metadata Sorter action task allows Metadata to be sorted sequentially on three different levels, alphabetically or numerically. It also allows sorting in ascending and descending order.

For more information about Metadata see Metadata.

Input

Any data file with accompanying Metadata.

Processing

The order of the Metadata is changed in accordance with the rules set forth in the task's properties.

Output

The original data file is output, along with the modified Metadata.

General Tab
  • Group: Sorts the Metadata by group.
  • Document: Sorts the Metadata by document.
  • Data page: Sorts the Metadata by data page.

For each parameter, three columns are available: Sort By, Then by, Then by (again). This lets you sort your document level in three different orders sequentially. Sorts are always done from left to right, top to bottom, giving you a total of 9 sorting possibilities.

When you click on either of the sort boxes, a small pop-up displays the following options:

  • Sort by: The drop down displays a list of available fields and attributes in that level, letting you select on which to sort. The field or attributes must be present for every instance of the level you are searching on, or the task raises an error.
  • Order: Choose Ascending (orders like a,b,c, or 1,2,3) or Descending (orders like 3,2,1 or c,b,a) order. If the Numeric sorting option is not checked, numbers are sorted like this: "1, 10, 11, 12, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9".
  • Numeric Sorting: Check to sort numerically instead of alphabetically (only supports whole numbers. Currency with thousands separator and decimal points will not work). If any non-numeric value is found in the field or attribute, in any instance of the level, the task raises an error.
On Error Tab

For a description of the options on the On Error tab see Using the On Error tab.

Miscellaneous Tab

The Miscellaneous tab is common to all tasks.

It contains a text area (Task comments) that lets you write comments about the task. These comments are saved when the dialog is closed with the OK button and are displayed in the Task Comments Pane.

Check the option Use as step description to display the text next to the icon of the plugin in the Process area.

The tab also provides an option to highlight the task in The Process area with the default color, set in the Preferences (see General appearance preferences), or the color selected or defined under Highlight color on this tab.
To revert the selected highlight color to the default color, open this tab, turn the Highlight option off and close the dialog with the OK button; then turn highlighting back on.
Highlighting can also be turned on and off via the task's contextual menu and with the Highlight button on the View ribbon.