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htmllanguage-agnostichtml-listshuman-computer-interface

Which direction is better for sorting multi-column lists?

Please note, I'm not asking how to implement or code a multi-column list.

There are two ways to sort multi-column lists: horizontal and vertical. Many of the Microsoft System.Web.UI.WebControls have a RepeatDirection property that offers these two options. I'm sure other frameworks also offer these direction options.

Below are samples of the two options:

Horizontal sorting (alphabetical)

* Ash      * Beech      * Cedar
* Date     * Elm        * Fir
* Grape    * Hawthorn   * Ivy

Horizontal sorting (numeric)

1. Ash      2. Beech       3. Cedar
4. Date     5. Elm         6. Fir
7. Grape    8. Hawthorn    9. Ivy

Vertical sorting (alphabetical)

* Ash      * Date    * Grape
* Beech    * Elm     * Hawthorn
* Cedar    * Fir     * Ivy

Vertical sorting (numeric)

1. Ash      4. Date    7. Grape
2. Beech    5. Elm     8. Hawthorn
3. Cedar    6. Fir     9. Ivy

Vertical sorting is the default behavior of many of the .Net web multi-column list controls (such as CheckBoxList).

I researched the topic looking at the usual document formatting standards that I used in college (APA, MLA, Chicago), but I have found nothing related to multi-column lists.

Are any actual arguments or document format standards/guidelines/rules for specifying the sort direction of multi-column lists?

Solution

  • I personally would have thought right-to-left, top-to-bottom "reading order" would've made the most sense - however, I'm starting to wonder about that in this situation.

    I guess the easier to 'scan' with the eyes may well be vertical as it's much easier to scan the first few characters of left-aligned text than scanning across and looking at the first characters of columnized text.