OL97: Cannot Sort, Group, or Filter on Field

ID: Q171956

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

After you create a formula or combination field, you cannot sort, group, or filter based on that field.

When you try to sort items based on the field, you receive the following message: 

   You cannot sort by this field.
When you try to group items based on the field, you receive the following message: 

   You cannot group by this field.
When you try to filter items based on the field, the field is not available for you to select.

CAUSE

This is a design limitation of the Microsoft Outlook 97 user interface.

RESOLUTION

There are currently no methods for working around this limitation when working with Outlook forms.

MORE INFORMATION

If your custom fields are calculations that you can do in Microsoft Excel, you may be able to sort within Outlook by displaying an Excel workbook that contains the calculation, instead of an Outlook form. By creating an Excel workbook that contains calculated values and assigning those values to a custom property, you can display and sort the workbook in Outlook.

For more information about how to display custom properties of an Excel worksheet in Outlook, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q161740
   TITLE     : OL97: Displaying Excel Custom Properties in an Outlook View

Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : Info_Provided

Last Reviewed: June 2, 1998