Numerically sort custom column?

[Vortex]

I have a text custom column in Calibre that has text followed by zero to three digits at the end. ie.

texta 1
texta 9
texta 12
textb 1
textb 2
textc 15
textc 37

How do I get the column to arrange numerically without having to add whole strings of zeros to the front of every digit or have the digits surrounded by []?

Thanks

[chaley]

Try setting the tweak Recognize numbers inside text when sorting (ID: numeric_collation) (Preferences / Tweaks). It might do what you want, but it might have side effects you don't want.

BTW: putting [] around the numbers won't do anything useful unless you change the column type to series.

[theducks]

You are seeing the traditional 'Alpha-Numeric' (datatype) sort because you used a Text field.

Chaley's, 'Series" solution works because underneath the DB covers, there are 2 pieces that sort

OTOH
You can't have a (tag type) comma separated list in a Series type.
So You must pad numbers with 0's or you use a Single 'Series'

[Vortex]

Originally Posted by chaley

Try setting the tweak Recognize numbers inside text when sorting (ID: numeric_collation) (Preferences / Tweaks). It might do what you want, but it might have side effects you don't want.

BTW: putting [] around the numbers won't do anything useful unless you change the column type to series.

Ah! Chaley, you're a star. Thank you. I didn't want the numbers in square brackets. That tweak worked perfectly.