Groups default to alphabetic order. Characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces affect the order. Space is the most popular and low-profile character used.
Different fields in the group editor effect change.
- Web Store Groups, 2 Control Fields:
- Group Name – Controls group order in the Browse/Shop menu.
- Button Text – Controls child group order in parent group. Child group button text should be different from the group name.
- Order Entry Groups, 1 Control Field: Group Name controls order. If the same group is used on the Web Store as Order Entry, the setup needs of the customer-facing Web Store are recommended to have precedence over internal-facing OE preferences.
Arrange Simple Group Order
A district has groups listed in the Browse/Shop menu and would like the levels listed in ascending order.
Example of Default Order
Elementary Schools
High Schools
Middle Schools
"High Schools” and "Middle Schools" need to swap positions. In the group editor for Middle Schools, add one space before “Middle”.
Example of Order After 1st Manipulation
Middle School
Elementary Schools
High Schools
We're close but now Elementary Schools is too low. In the group editor for Elementary Schools, add one space before "Elementary".
Example of Order After 2nd Manipulation
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools
The order is now as desired. Notice how no changes were applied to "High Schools".
Arrange Complex Group Order (Child Groups)
The recommendations in Naming Groups automatically list similarly named groups together.
Example of Similar Categories Listed Together in Portal
| Group Type | Group Name |
|---|---|
| CHILD | PC Athletics |
| CHILD | PC Field Trips |
| CHILD | PC PTO |
| PARENT | Prairie Campus |
In this example, the parent group spells out the campus ("Prairie Campus") and child groups use shorthand ("PC"). The screenshot below depicts the child groups in default order.
Example of Child Group Order, Before Manipulation
In this example, "Field Trips" is a popular purchase. To enhance the user experience, this will be arranged to list foremost. The button text must be manipulated to achieve this.
- Go to Inventory > Groups. The group editor will display.
- Next to Button Text, add one space before the least common denominator in the button text. In the example, that would be first letter of "Field".
If a "Field Day" group and a "Field Trips" group existed, but Field Trip was to list first, the space would be added before "Trips" in the "Field Trips" button text. This is because "Trips" is the least common denominator between the two button texts. This placement also keeps both groups starting with "Field…" in overall alphabetic order.
- Click UPDATE. Refresh the customer-facing parent group to review the change.
Example of Child Group Order, After Manipulation
To revert the setup, remove the space that was added.
If "PTO" needs to be first listed, add a space before "PTO" in button text. Notice how PTO isn’t where we hoped. That’s because both "Field Trips" and "PTO" use one space in button text which makes them the same "level" and alphabetic again plays a part ("F" before "P"). To bump PTO before Field Trips, one more space must be added before "PTO" (2 spaces total).
Example of Child Group Order, After Manipulation (PTO with 1 space)
Example of Child Group Order, After Manipulation (PTO with 2 spaces)
Notice how "Athletics" was never touched – no change was needed there to achieve the results.
If the order is preferred to be Athletics, PTO, Field Trips, the spacing added earlier would be removed. Then, add one space to the button text of "Athletics" and "PTO". "Field Trips" would be untouched and without extra spaces.
As many spaces as needed can be added but we recommend using strategy to add as few as possible.