Title: what date format will allow proper sorting
Last modified: August 21, 2016

---

# what date format will allow proper sorting

 *  Resolved [ironandsteel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ironandsteel/)
 * (@ironandsteel)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/)
 * I am importing csv data and I’ve been doing a lot of hand grooming of it. I have
   a custom date field that I have added, and I can provide that data in any convenient
   date format. No matter what I try, it doesn’t sort quite right. I have tried “
   December 3, 2013” as well as “12/3/2013”. I have noiticed that when using the
   m/d/y format, I need to wrap it in quotes, or the import thinks I have too many
   fields.
 * Is the import format affected by the date format string in the advanced settings
   page, or is that only for manual entry on the entry form?
 * Thx!
 * [http://wordpress.org/plugins/participants-database/](http://wordpress.org/plugins/participants-database/)

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376255)
 * Importing dates as string does work, but if you’re using slashes (not recommended
   if you can avoid it) it helps to have that set as your global date format.
 * The advanced settings are mainly for non-english dates, so you shouldn’t have
   to use the “strict dates” setting.
 * But you say it doesn’t work if you use a date like “December 3, 2013” what exactly
   is happening to the date after it’s imported?
 *  Thread Starter [ironandsteel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ironandsteel/)
 * (@ironandsteel)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376260)
 * They import properly but do not sort right, either in the front end or the admin.
   
   You can check it out here:
 * [http://spiritual-frontiers.com/wp/events-archive-list-beta/](http://spiritual-frontiers.com/wp/events-archive-list-beta/)
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376264)
 * By properly, you mean the imported record is showing the correct date in the 
   plugin?
 * Do you have the date fields set as a “date” type on the Manage Database Fields
   page?
 *  Thread Starter [ironandsteel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ironandsteel/)
 * (@ironandsteel)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376270)
 * The imported dates are displaying correctly, and I have set my date field to “
   Date Field” in the “manage database fields” page.
 * It is just not sorting quite right- it is not sorting alphabetically, but it 
   is not exactly sorting correctly on date either- if you play wit the link I sent,
   if I sort decending, I have 2001 dates, then 2000 dates, then 2013 dates, etc.
 * This sorting issue is mainly as a bug report for you to look into. Once I can
   disable pagination, Datatables will handle the sorting.
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376272)
 * Thanks, I appreciate that…very helpful.
 *  Thread Starter [ironandsteel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ironandsteel/)
 * (@ironandsteel)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376476)
 * Got 1.5.1 and it still is not sorting dates on the back end for me.
 * I have it working fine on the front-end (Datatables is handling the sorting).
   But in the admin section, it would be very handy to have date sorting work.
 * I have a field that I have set as a date field, and my dates are in the form “
   April 4, 2013”. I am unable to sort by date. If you would like me to send you
   my csv that I am importing to use as a test case, I’d be happy to.
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376478)
 * As mentioned in the other thread, it’s fixed in the next release.

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

The topic ‘what date format will allow proper sorting’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/participants-database/assets/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=1389807)
 * [Participants Database](https://wordpress.org/plugins/participants-database/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/participants-database/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/reviews/)

 * 7 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-date-format-will-allow-proper-sorting/#post-4376478)
 * Status: resolved