Added new kb article grid-sort-columns-by-month-number-based-on-month-name

knowledge-base/grid-sort-columns-by-month-number-based-on-month-name.md

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+---
+title: Sort Columns by Month Number Based on Month Name
+description: This article explains how to sort a RadGrid column by month number when the month name is clicked, ensuring correct chronological order.
+type: how-to
+page_title: Sort Columns by Month Number Based on Month Name
+slug: grid-sort-columns-by-month-number-based-on-month-name
+tags: radgrid, asp.net ajax, sorting, gridboundcolumn, sortexpression
+res_type: kb
+ticketid: 1668677
+---
+
+## Environment
+
+<table>
+<tbody>
+<tr>
+<td>Product</td>
+<td>RadGrid for ASP.NET AJAX</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>Version</td>
+<td>All</td>
+</tr>
+</tbody>
+</table>
+
+## Description
+
+When sorting a grid column by month name, the months are ordered alphabetically, resulting in an incorrect chronological sequence (e.g., December appears before January). I want to sort the column based on the month number when the month name is clicked while maintaining the sort indicator on the month name column.
+
+This KB article also answers the following questions:
+
+- How to sort RadGrid columns chronologically by month name?
+- How to use a hidden column for sorting in RadGrid?
+- How to maintain the sort indicator on a RadGrid column while sorting by a different field?
+
+## Solution
+
+To sort a [RadGrid](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/aspnet-ajax/controls/grid/overview) column by month number while displaying and sorting by the month name, follow these steps:
+
+1. Add a hidden column to the RadGrid that holds the month number.
+2. Set the `SortExpression` of the month name column to the field name of the month number.
+3. Ensure the data source includes both month name and month number.
+
+Here's an example implementation:
+
+````ASP.NET
+<telerik:RadGrid ID="RadGrid1" runat="server" AllowSorting="True" OnNeedDataSource="RadGrid1_NeedDataSource" AutoGenerateColumns="False">
+    <MasterTableView>
+        <Columns>
+            <telerik:GridBoundColumn DataField="MonthName" HeaderText="Month" SortExpression="MonthNumber" UniqueName="MonthName" />
+            <telerik:GridBoundColumn DataField="MonthNumber" HeaderText="Month #" UniqueName="MonthNumber" Visible="false" />
+        </Columns>
+    </MasterTableView>
+</telerik:RadGrid>
+````
+
+And the corresponding backend code in VB.NET:
+
+````C#
+protected void RadGrid1_NeedDataSource(object sender, GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs e)
+{
+    RadGrid1.DataSource = GetData();
+}
+
+private DataTable GetData()
+{
+    DataTable dt = new DataTable();
+    dt.Columns.Add("MonthName", typeof(string));
+    dt.Columns.Add("MonthNumber", typeof(int));
+
+    dt.Rows.Add("February", 2);
+    dt.Rows.Add("April", 4);
+    dt.Rows.Add("March", 3);
+    dt.Rows.Add("May", 5);
+    dt.Rows.Add("June", 6);
+    dt.Rows.Add("January", 1);
+    dt.Rows.Add("July", 7);
+    dt.Rows.Add("September", 9);
+    dt.Rows.Add("November", 11);
+    dt.Rows.Add("October", 10);
+    dt.Rows.Add("December", 12);
+    dt.Rows.Add("August", 8);
+
+    return dt;
+}
+````
+````VB
+Protected Sub RadGrid1_NeedDataSource(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs)
+    RadGrid1.DataSource = GetData()
+End Sub
+
+Private Function GetData() As DataTable
+    Dim dt As DataTable = New DataTable()
+    dt.Columns.Add("MonthName", GetType(String))
+    dt.Columns.Add("MonthNumber", GetType(Integer))
+    dt.Rows.Add("February", 2)
+    dt.Rows.Add("April", 4)
+    dt.Rows.Add("March", 3)
+    dt.Rows.Add("May", 5)
+    dt.Rows.Add("June", 6)
+    dt.Rows.Add("January", 1)
+    dt.Rows.Add("July", 7)
+    dt.Rows.Add("September", 9)
+    dt.Rows.Add("November", 11)
+    dt.Rows.Add("October", 10)
+    dt.Rows.Add("December", 12)
+    dt.Rows.Add("August", 8)
+    Return dt
+End Function
+````
+
+This setup ensures that clicking the month name column sorts the data based on the numerical month value while keeping the sort indicator on the name column.
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Basic Sorting](https://demos.telerik.com/aspnet-ajax/grid/examples/functionality/sorting/basic-sorting/defaultcs.aspx)
+- [Sorting in RadGrid](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/grid/functionality/sorting/overview)