ToDataSourceResult doesn't preserve the default order when 'sort' http variable is not set

[Vasili]

Hi,
I'm using EF and I want to add a default order for items in a grid. To do that I've added a call to OrderBy and after that I convert the result to DataSourceResult:

var data = context.Subjects.OrderBy(x => x.ScreeningNumber).ToDataSourceResult(request);

The problem is that if there is no order set (this.HttpContext.Request.Form["sort"] is "") I expect it to use my default ordering, but for some reason ToDataSourceResult completely removes ordering. How can I keep my default order in such cases?

Thanks in advance.

[Daniel]

Hello Vasili,

The order is lost because the ToDataSourceResult method will apply order on the first column when Entity Framework is used and there are not any SortDescriptors. This is needed because Entity Framework always requires order in order to perform the paging. In order to set the order in this scenario, I can suggest to check if there are not any SortDescriptors and add one for the property:

if (request.Sorts.Count == 0)
{
    request.Sorts.Add(new SortDescriptor("ScreeningNumber",
        System.ComponentModel.ListSortDirection.Ascending));
}

Regards,
Daniel
the Telerik team

[Mihhail]

Hello Daniel,

 

Unfortunately, this doesn't answer the initial concern. There are cases where we need custom ordering, which can only be done by using `OrderBy` on the `IQueryable`. In case this is an EF issue, you could at least provide a flag like `SkipDefaultSorting`. Or better yet inspect the IQueryable. 

 

Best regards,

Mihhail

[Neli]

Hi Mihhail,

There is such Feature Request logged in our official Feedback Portal. Below you will find a link to the item that I would encourage you to cast a vote for: 

- https://feedback.telerik.com/aspnet-mvc/1399551-the-todatasourceresult-function-replaces-an-existing-sort-on-iqueryable-with-a-default-one-if-the-sorts-list-property-is-empty-in-the-datasourcerequest

Regards,
Neli