Question

I am currently experiencing a problem with sorting a result by a data column which is using date_format.

I have the below dates:

• 12-03-12
• 21-03-12
• 25-03-12
• 17-04-12

When I perform the query:

SELECT date FROM myTable ORDER date DESC

The dates are ordered in the correct order

• 17-04-12
• 25-03-12
• 21-03-12
• 12-03-12

When I perform the query

SELECT DATE_FORMAT(date, '%d-%m-%Y') as `date` ORDER BY date

The dates are now in the wrong order

• 25-03-12
• 21-03-12
• 17-04-12
• 17-03-12
• 14-03-12

I’ve also tried running the query
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(date, ‘%d-%m-%Y’) as date ORDER BY DATE_FORMAT(date, ‘%d-%m-%Y’) but has made no difference.

How can I get this to sort in the correct order.

Answer 1

The problem is that you are overriding the column name with the alias.

Choose another alias:

SELECT DATE_FORMAT(`date`, '%d-%m-%Y') as date_formatted
FROM myTable 
ORDER BY `date` DESC