Sortable google doc embed?

[bug_girl]

Arg! I am fairly sure this can be done, but unable to figure out quite how to do it. I know that you can embed a google doc/spreadsheet on your website--that part is easy

What I would *like* to do is have the spreadsheet retain the ability to be sorted by column. (I want to do this mainly because it will save me from having to write a bunch of queries to deal with this task if it's a hosted database )

Anyone have good Google-doc fu and know if this is doable?

thanks!

Bug

 

[bug_girl]

No one? Anyone? Did the heat get to you all?

 

[arthwollipot]

Sorry, google-fu is weak.

 

[DrDave]

http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=181254

Linked from What's new page (http://www.google.com/google-d-s/whatsnew.html). Looks to be the same as in normal Excel so it's either a new feature or I misunderstand your requirement

 

[paulhutch]

I've never embedded a Google Docs spreadsheet but from what I've read the publishing process used for embedding appears to make it non-editable. Sorting in a spreadsheet is an editing function so it may not be possible to do what you want.

 

[bug_girl]

Dr. Dave is right, you can sort it when it's not embedded.
But, as Paul says, when you embedd it it becomes static, not dynamic.

I was hoping I was just missing something, and there was a way to keep it searchable when embedded, because that would make my life much, much simpler

 

[paulhutch]

With sorting being a potentially dangerous operation on spreadsheet data, I often presort data for the less technical users of my spreadsheets at work.

I copy the data to multiple sheets (one sheet for each desired sorting) and sort the data on the sheet. Then I give the sheets (tabs) names that indicate the different sorts. e.g. "Sorted by date", "Sorted by quantity", etc. Then the user simply selects the sheet (tab) for whatever sorting they want to view.

No idea if this will work for an embedded Google Docs spreadsheet and this technique gets cumbersome fast if there are too many different useful ways of sorting the data.

 

[bug_girl]

That's actually what I initially proposed. They wanted something special.

I have informed them what "special" will cost. They are reconsidering