The following example shows how you can perform numeric sorts, case sensitive sorts, or case insensitive sorts in the Flex DataGrid control by setting a custom sort compare function on the DataGridColumn using the sortCompareFunction property, the static ObjectUtil.numericCompare() method, and the static ObjectUtil.stringCompare() method.

  
 
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>


<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"

layout="vertical"

verticalAlign="middle"

backgroundColor="white">



<mx:Script>

<![CDATA[

import mx.utils.ObjectUtil;



private function index_sortCompareFunc(itemA:Object, itemB:Object):int {

// Make sure itemA has an "index" property.

if (!itemA.hasOwnProperty("index")) {

itemA.index = null;

}

// Make sure itemB has an "index" property.

if (!itemB.hasOwnProperty("index")) {

itemB.index = null;

}

// Perform a numeric sort.

return ObjectUtil.numericCompare(itemA.index, itemB.index);

}



private function value_sortCompareFunc(itemA:Object, itemB:Object):int {

// Make sure itemA has a "value" property.

if (!itemA.hasOwnProperty("value")) {

itemA.value = null;

}

// Make sure itemB has a "value" property.

if (!itemB.hasOwnProperty("value")) {

itemB.value = null;

}

/**

* Perform a string sort. If the checkbox is selected

* do a case insensitive sort, otherwise, dont.

*/

return ObjectUtil.stringCompare(itemA.value, itemB.value, checkBox.selected);

}

]]>

</mx:Script>



<mx:ArrayCollection id="arrColl">

<mx:source>

<mx:Array>

<mx:Object index="1" value="apple" />

<mx:Object index="200" value="Bear" />

<mx:Object index="3" value="corn" />

<mx:Object index="40" value="Dragon" />

<mx:Object value="eggplant" />

<mx:Object index="5" />

</mx:Array>

</mx:source>

</mx:ArrayCollection>



<mx:ApplicationControlBar dock="true">

<mx:CheckBox id="checkBox"

label="case insensitive search:"

labelPlacement="left"

selected="true" />

</mx:ApplicationControlBar>



<mx:DataGrid id="dataGrid" dataProvider="{arrColl}">

<mx:columns>

<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="index"

sortCompareFunction="index_sortCompareFunc" />

<mx:DataGridColumn dataField="value"

sortCompareFunction="value_sortCompareFunc" />

</mx:columns>

</mx:DataGrid> 

  
 </mx:Application>