Sort a list in scripting app

[Paul_Van_Dooren]

Hello all,

I have a table that's filled with (linked) dates. To be able to view all the dates in a list, i've created in the script app a script to give me that list. But, is there a possibilty to sort that list?

Below the code:

// Change this name to use a different table
let table = base.getTable("Deadlines");
// Prompt the user to pick a record 
// If this script is run from a button field, this will use the button's record instead.
let record = await input.recordAsync('Select a record to use', table);
let Weer = record.getCellValue('NB-Weer - DATE');
let Dag = record.getCellValue('NB-Dagkrant - DATE');
let Pagina = record.getCellValue('NB-1-1 Pagina DATE');

output.markdown(`**NB-Weer:** ${Weer}`);
output.markdown(`**NB-Dagkrant:** ${Dag}`);
output.markdown(`**NB-Dagkrant:** ${Pagina}`);

... and the result:

Very much a scripting newbie so any help or pointers very much appreciated!

Allready a big thanks and any help is welcome

[Alvaro_Hernande]

I couldn´t test this solution inside Airtable, but in JS I would do this:

Just adding a sorting step after retrieving the values.

And at the end just iterate overthe sorted dates array and output each date.

Hope it works!

// Change this name to use a different table
let table = base.getTable("Deadlines");
// Prompt the user to pick a record 
// If this script is run from a button field, this will use the button's record instead.
let record = await input.recordAsync('Select a record to use', table);
let Weer = record.getCellValue('NB-Weer - DATE');
let Dag = record.getCellValue('NB-Dagkrant - DATE');
let Pagina = record.getCellValue('NB-1-1 Pagina DATE');

// Create an array to store the dates
let dates = [Weer, Dag, Pagina];

// Filter out empty dates
dates = dates.filter(date => date !== null);

// Sort the dates in descending order
dates.sort((a, b) => b - a);

// Format and output the sorted dates
output.markdown('**Sorted Dates (Newest First):**');
dates.forEach(date => {
  output.markdown(`- ${date}`);
});

[Paul_Van_Dooren]

Hi Alvaro,

Thank you for the quick response, unfortunately it didn't do the trick.
But you have given me an idea to group (array) the dates.

grtz,
Paul

[Alexey_Gusev · Accepted solution]

That should work

const table=base.getTable('Deadlines')
let record = await input.recordAsync('Select a record to use', table);
const flds=['NB-Weer - DATE','NB-Dagkrant - DATE','NB-1-1 Pagina DATE']
const getData=flds.map(f=>[record?.getCellValue(f),f]).sort().reverse().map(arr=>arr.reverse().join(': '))
output.table(getData)

[Stephen_Orr1 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Paul_Van_Dooren,

Here's an easy to follow version

// Change this name to use a different table
let table = base.getTable('Deadlines');
// Prompt the user to pick a record
// If this script is run from a button field, this will use the button's record instead.
let record = await input.recordAsync('Select a record to use', table);
let Weer = record.getCellValue('NB-Weer - DATE') || '';
let Dag = record.getCellValue('NB-Dagkrant - DATE') || '';
let Pagina = record.getCellValue('NB-1-1 Pagina DATE') || '';

let dates = [
  { field: 'NB-Weer', value: Weer },
  { field: 'NB-Dagkrant', value: Dag },
  { field: 'NB-1-1 Pagina', value: Pagina },
];

//filter out empty dates (remove if you would prefer empty dates to remain)
dates = dates.filter((f) => f.value);

//sort array of field value objects
dates.sort((a, b) => String(a.value).localeCompare(String(b.value)));

for (let d of dates) {
  output.markdown(`**${d.field}** ${d.value}`);
}

-Stephen

[Paul_Van_Dooren]

Hey Stephen,

Thanks for your effort, unfortunately the sorting didn't work.
But you gave me an idea how to layout the final  view.

greetings,
Paul

[Paul_Van_Dooren]

Hello Alexey,

Thank you very much, this script did the trick!

greetings,
Paul

[Stephen_Orr1]

Oops, this is what I get for not testing 🙂 I updated my previous code to sort strings instead of numbers. By the way, I would highly recommend readable/well documented code over shorter code for the sake of future maintenance. If you've ever inherited a project where someone has tried to write things in the shortest way possible with zero commenting, you'll soon know pain. Good luck!

[Paul_Van_Dooren]

Hello Stephen,

You are right, the improvement you've made, made the script working. Thank you very much.
And yes, when you make comments in a script it is a big help for future maintenance!