Re: way to custom sort column by fixed strings, then by field's content

The query is currently:
select sti.description, sc.description from scene_thing_instances sti
left outer join scenes sc on sti.scene_id = sc.scene_id
order by sti.description, CASE
when (sti.description = 'absolute root'::text) then 1
when (sti.description ilike 'root%') then 2
else 3
END;

The results I want are:

description | description
-------------------+-------------

absolute root |
root 3 | Scene 1
root 4 | Scene 2
root 6 | Scene 3
18 cm long wrench | Scene 1
blue screwdriver | Scene 1
red toolbox | Scene 1
small wrench | Scene 1
tire | Scene 2
(9 rows)

On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 12:22 PM, Adrian Klaver <adrian(dot)klaver(at)gmail(dot)com>wrote:

> On 02/03/2014 12:01 PM, Susan Cassidy wrote:
>
> CCing the list.
>
> This didn't sort the way I want. It ended up as:
>> description | description
>> -------------------+-------------
>> 18 cm long wrench | Scene 1
>> absolute root |
>> blue screwdriver | Scene 1
>> red toolbox | Scene 1
>> root 3 | Scene 1
>> root 4 | Scene 2
>> root 6 | Scene 3
>> small wrench | Scene 1
>> tire | Scene 2
>>
>>
>> The first column is the one I want sorted.
>>
>
> Probably best to show us a made up sample of what you want.
>
>
>> Also note that I made it a left outer join\
>>
>
> Where?
>
>
>> Susan
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Adrian Klaver
> adrian(dot)klaver(at)gmail(dot)com
>