Do not want fields to show in alphabetical order

[Guest]

I have created a report in Access 2002 that is based on a form that is used
to enter data into a single table. My problem is that the fields in the
report show in alphabetical order and I do not want this. How can I change
this? Example:
Field name that has entries: Actual
Field name that has entries: Lost
This has my report showing the actual entries first and I want the Lost
entries to show first and the Actual entries to follow.
Thanks

 

[Duane Hookom]

Reports will display in the order specified in the sorting and grouping
dialog. You can select fields or expressions and set ascending or
descending. I have never found a situation where these options didn't meet
my needs.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Duane, the answer you provided has me headed in the right direction.
I have opened the Sortin and Grouping box and see everything is set to
Ascending order. This if fine for two of the fields but the third field is
the one I am having trouble with. My book shows some examples but nothing to
help me so here if you could help me with the expression on this I would
appreciate it.
My values in this field are simple: Prior, Plan and Future and this is the
way I would like them to show on the report. What would an expression look
like that would do this?

 

[Duane Hookom]

This looks like a simple Descending order to me unless I am missing
something.

 

[Guest]

Descending gives Plan, Prior, Future
Needs to be Prior, Plan and then Future

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Unless you're using a different alphabet than Duane and me, Prior, Plan and
Future is in reverse alphabetic order.

 

[Duane Hookom]

sniff... sniff... sniff... Unless I am mistaken, I seem to smell a lookup
field in a table (or maybe left over turkey).

If the book you have suggests using lookup fields in tables then I suggest
you get a different book.

If you want these values to sort in a specific order that might not be the
same as the text values, then you should add a field to store the
sequence/order.

 

[Guest]

The report is generated from a query of many tables. I do not believe there
are any lookup field in the table.
Interested in your suggestion can you be a little more clear? Thanks

 

[Guest]

That was what I get when I set my machine to sort descending.

 

[Duane Hookom]

I'm not sure what you have or what you want or what you are seeing. Your
first question pertained to the values "Actual" and "Lost". Then you mention
"Prior, Plan and then Future" which are the proper sorting if you set your
field to sort descending.

Could you please check your sorting and group expression and order. Also
look at the actual values of the field. Then, if you are having a problem,
please come back with a description of the issue.

 

[Guest]

This issue is still unresolved

That was what I get when I set my machine to sort descending.

 

[Rick Brandt]

This issue is still unresolved

Either your entry for "Plan" or "Prior" is misspelled. There is no way for
entries spelled correctly to come out as...

Plan, Prior, Future

....when sorted in descending alphabetical order. Unless possibly you are using
lookup fields and your table is displaying these words while actually storing
some numerical value in which case they are being sorted according to those
numbers, and not the text you are seeing.