Alphabetic Sorting in Lists

Use the Basic Configuration tab under Program Options to select the alphabetic sorting method for lists containing multipart surnames:

•	According to spelling, the example "Count of Boston" would be filed under the letter "C".

•	According to context, the example "Count of Boston" would be filed under the letter "B".

The option specified in the Program Options can be overwritten in certain dialogs.

The following rules have been programmed for context sorting of multipart surnames:

1. Parts of names following an AND word or after a comma are not considered primarily, that is the parts of names preceding an AND word or before a comma will be used primarily for sorting.

2.1. If the parts of the name that are used primarily for sorting contain a OF word without a NON-NOBLE PREFIX, only the parts behind the OF word will be used for sorting.

2.2. If the parts of the name that are used primarily for sorting contain a OF word plus a NON-NOBLE PREFIX, the NON-NOBLE PREFIX will be used for sorting.

2.3. If the parts of the name that are used primarily for sorting do not contain a OF word, the last part that does not follow a question mark '?' and is not in brackets will be used for sorting.

The AND and OF words as well as the NON-NOBLE PREFIXES to be used are saved in the FamilyTreeFactory.CTS context sorting file. The user can edit this file by using the Context Sorting File Editor.

Possible AND words include "and" or "a.", but not the word "and" in the combination "of and to".

Possible OF words include "of", "of the", "on the", "of and to", "to", "de", "di", "von", "van".

Possible NON-NOBLE PREFIXES include "Meier", "Meyer", "Maier" or "Mayer".

For sorting, the parts of the name that are not used for primary sorting are placed at the end of the name. The following examples illustrate the context sorting function:

Multipart name text	Context sorting as...	Note
of Boston	Boston of
to Boston	Boston to
of and to Boston	Boston of and to
Count Boston	Boston Count
Count of Boston	Boston Count of
Count of and to Boston	Boston Count of and to
Count of Boston and Cambridge	Boston and Cambridge Count of
Count of Boston and of Cambridge	Boston and of Cambridge Count of
On the Campus	Campus On the
Of the Meadow	Meadow Of the
Meier to Boston	Meier to Boston	non-noble prefix preceding "to"
Meier ?Meyer	Meier ?Meyer	last part follows a '?'
Meier (Meyer or Maier?)	Meier (Meyer or Maier?)	last parts are in parentheses
of Meier (Meyer or Maier?)	Meier (Meyer or Maier?) of