Question

I have a column [datatype:varchar(50)] in database (SQL Server 2008) having Values as shown below:

1
2
1.1.11
4.1
5
2.1
1.1
4
1.2.1
4.2.2
4.3
4.2
4.3.1
4.2.1
11.2
1.2.4
4.4

these are numbered bullets for my records
I need to sort them as grouping all the records in sequence 1,1.1,1.1.1,2,3.1,4,10.1,11.1....

Please help me in this regard.

Answer 1

WITH T(YourColumn) AS
(
SELECT '1' UNION ALL
SELECT '2' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.1.11' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.1' UNION ALL
SELECT '5' UNION ALL
SELECT '2.1' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.1' UNION ALL
SELECT '4' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.2.1' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.2.2' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.3' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.2' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.3.1' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.2.1' UNION ALL
SELECT '11.2' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.2.4' UNION ALL
SELECT '4.4'
)
SELECT *
FROM T 
ORDER BY CAST('/' + YourColumn + '/' AS HIERARCHYID)

Returns

YourColumn
----------
1
1.1
1.1.11
1.2.1
1.2.4
2
2.1
4
4.1
4.2
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.3
4.3.1
4.4
5
11.2

Is that what you need?