Sort (Data Management Tools)

Summary

Reorders records in a feature class or table, in ascending or descending order, based on one or multiple fields. The reordered result is written to a new dataset.

Learn more about how Sort works

Illustration

Usage

Feature classes can be spatially reordered, or sorted. The Shape field must be used as the sort field for spatial sorting. There are a number of spatial sort methods that arrange the features differently based on their location.
If input records are selected, only the subset of selected records are sorted and written to the output.
If more than one field is set as a sort field, rows are first sorted by the first field and within that order, sorted by the second field, and so on.
Polygon features can be sorted by their area using the Shape_Area field of a geodatabase feature class. Similarly, polyline features can be sorted by their length using the Shape_Length field. To sort polygon features in a shapefile, add a new field, calculate the area into the new field using Calculate Field, and run Sort using the new field.

License:

For the Field(s) parameter, sorting by the Shape field or by multiple fields is only available with an ArcGIS Pro Advanced license. Sorting by a single attribute field (excluding Shape) is available at all license levels.
To transfer the input dataset's subtypes, domains, and other advanced geodatabase field properties to the output dataset, use the Transfer Geodatabase Attribute Properties environment.
To copy the input dataset's geodatabase attachments to the output dataset, use the Maintain Attachments environment.

Label	Explanation	Data type
Input Dataset	The input dataset with the records that will be reordered based on the field values in the sort field or fields.	Table View
Output Dataset	The output feature class or table.	Feature Class; Table
Field(s)	The field or fields whose values will be used to reorder the input records and the direction the records will be sorted. License: Sorting by the `Shape` field or by multiple fields is only available with an ArcGIS Pro Advanced license. Sorting by a single attribute field (excluding `Shape`) is available at all license levels. Value table columns: Sort Field—The field to be sorted. Sort Method—The order records will be sorted. Ascending—Records will be sorted from low value to high value. Descending—Records will be sorted from high value to low value.	Value Table
Spatial Sort Method (Optional)	Specifies how features will be spatially sorted. The sort method is only enabled when the `Shape` field is designated as one of the sort fields. Upper right—Sorting will start at the upper right corner. This is the default. Upper left—Sorting will start at the upper left corner. Lower right—Sorting will start at the lower right corner. Lower left—Sorting will start at the lower left corner. Peano curve—A space filling curve algorithm, also known as a Peano curve, will be used to sort.	String

arcpy.management.Sort(in_dataset, out_dataset, sort_field, {spatial_sort_method})

Name	Explanation	Data type
in_dataset	The input dataset with the records that will be reordered based on the field values in the sort field or fields.	Table View
out_dataset	The output feature class or table.	Feature Class; Table
sort_field [[sort_field, direction],...]	The field or fields whose values will be used to reorder the input records and the direction the records will be sorted. License: Sorting by the `Shape` field or by multiple fields is only available with an ArcGIS Pro Advanced license. Sorting by a single attribute field (excluding `Shape`) is available at all license levels. Value table columns: `Sort Field`—The field to be sorted. `Sort Method`—The order records will be sorted. `ASCENDING`—Records will be sorted from low value to high value. `DESCENDING`—Records will be sorted from high value to low value.	Value Table
spatial_sort_method (Optional)	Specifies how features will be spatially sorted. The sort method is only enabled when the `Shape` field is designated as one of the sort fields. `UR`—Sorting will start at the upper right corner. This is the default. `UL`—Sorting will start at the upper left corner. `LR`—Sorting will start at the lower right corner. `LL`—Sorting will start at the lower left corner. `PEANO`—A space filling curve algorithm, also known as a Peano curve, will be used to sort.	String

Code sample

Sort example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the Sort function to order features by the values of a field.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/city.gdb"
arcpy.management.Sort("crime", "crime_Sort", [["DATE_REP", "ASCENDING"]])

Sort example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the Sort function in a stand-alone script.

# Name: Sort_example2.py
# Description: Sorts wells by location and well yield.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set workspace environment
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/newfoundland.gdb"

# set local variables
in_dataset = "wells"
out_dataset = "wells_Sort"

# Order features first by location (Shape) and then by WELL_YIELD
sort_fields = [["Shape", "ASCENDING"], ["WELL_YIELD", "DESCENDING"]]

# Use Peano algorithm
sort_method = "PEANO"

# Run the function
arcpy.management.Sort(in_dataset, out_dataset, sort_fields, sort_method)

Environments

Current Workspace, Scratch Workspace, Output Coordinate System, Geographic Transformations, Extent, XY Resolution, XY Tolerance, Output has M values, M Resolution, M Tolerance, Output has Z values, Default Output Z Value, Z Resolution, Z Tolerance, Maintain fully qualified field names, Output XY Domain, Output M Domain, Output Z Domain, Maintain Attachments, Transfer Geodatabase Field Properties, Preserve Global IDs

Licensing information

Basic: Limited
With ArcGIS Pro Basic and ArcGIS Pro Standard, you will only be allowed to sort on one attribute field. To sort on the geometry field or multiple fields, you need ArcGIS Pro Advanced.
Standard: Limited
With ArcGIS Pro Basic and ArcGIS Pro Standard, you will only be allowed to sort on one attribute field. To sort on the geometry field or multiple fields, you need ArcGIS Pro Advanced.
Advanced: Yes