Sorting a Dataset Table

Hi Everyone,

I have a data sorting problem I need help with.

I have a database with several tables.  I have created a dataset containing all of those tables, but only the pertinent info from each table.

I have a combobox that I have bound to a field ("TAGS") in one of the tables ("TAGSTABLE") . The data rows in the table were not entered into the DB in the proper order.

I need to sort the data displayed in the combobox in alphabetical order based on the "TAGS" field.

In addition, I am getting the values from adjacent fields of the selected combobox item using the .SelectedIndexChanged event of the combobox:

strDesc = DataSet.Tables("TAGSTABLE").Rows(strCurRow)("DESCRIPTION")
strPrfx = DataSet.Tables("TAGSTABLE").Rows(strCurRow)("PREFIX")

I understand you cannot change the .Sort property of a combobox if it is bound.

So, I tried using the following code to sort the data in the combobox

BindingSource.Sort = "TAGS"

The field sorted properly in the combobox as expected, but when clicking on a value in the combobox, the incorrect value was selected for the strDesc and strPrfx variables (noted above).  I can only assume that the data is only being sorted in one field?

For giggles I also tried unbinding the combobox and assigning its datasource at runtime and then sorting that, but got the same results.

combobox.DataSource = DataSet.Tables("TAGSTABLE")
combobox.DisplayMember = "TAGS"
BindingSource.Sort = "TAGS"

And as a last resort, I tried creating a new DataView and attempted to sort that with the same results as above.

Dim dSet As DataSet = DataSet
Dim dView As DataView = (dSet.Tables(0).DefaultView)
dView.Sort = "TAGS"
combobox.DataSource = dView

Here is an example of what is in the table:

TAGS DESCRIPTION PREFIX
Tag3 Description3 Prefix3
Tag1 Description1 Prefix1
Tag4 Description4 Prefix4
Tag2 Description2 Prefix2

Here is an example of what I expect to see after picking a combobox value and getting the strDesc and strPrfx values from the .SelectedIndexChanged event:

Tag1 Description1 Prefix1

etc...

So, if I select Tag1 in the combobox, I need to see Description1 in the strDesc variable and Prefix1 in the strPrfx variable

I am currently getting random values.  As my code is currently if I select Tag1 in the combobox, I might get Description4 for strDesc and Prefix4 for strPrfx.

I am stuck! How can I sort the data so all of the data (all row contents) are sorted and not just the values in the sorted field?

Thanks for any help you can offer!