---
title: "Using Collection Sort Step"
slug: "using-collection-sort-step"
updated: 2026-06-26T13:34:13Z
published: 2026-06-26T13:34:13Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/using-collection-sort-step"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using Collection Sort Step

## Overview

The **Collection Sort Step** takes in a list of items and compares them in the Filter Flow. The Filter Flow runs these items through the specified sorting logic and, based on the logic, sorts and configures the order of the list.

---

## Example

The following example will demonstrate how to alphabetically sort a list of names using the Collection Sort step.

1. In the Designer Project, click CREATE FLOW from the **Global Action Bar** and select **Flow**. Name the Flow and click CREATE.
2. Click the **Done** path on the **Start** step. Navigate to **All Steps [Catalog] > Data > List** and select the **Add Item to List** step. Click ADD.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778690767698.png)
3. On the **Properties** panel, change the mapping of the **New Item** and **Original List** fields by clicking **Unknown** and selecting **Constant**. In the New Item Field, enter "Aaron Parker". In the Original List field, enter "Alex Carter", "Taylor Swan", "Brittany Morgan", and "Casey Bennett".![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778691061163.png)
4. Attach the **Collection Sort Step** to the Done path by navigating to **DATA > LIST** and dragging the step from the **Toolbox** panel.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778692522730.png)
5. On the Properties panel, click **Unknown** next to the **Input Collection** field and select **Flow Data**. Select **New List** and click DONE.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778692589720.png)
6. On the Properties panel, click EDIT to open the Filter Flow.This Filter Flow is where the sorted logic is configured. The Filter Flow has a Start step with First Entity and Second Entity inputs (of the Collection Type). Three End steps are provided, Entity First Sorts First, Entity Second Sorts First, Entity First, and Second Sorted The Same.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778692699046.png)
7. Navigate to DATA > TEXT category on the Toolbox panel and attach a **TextA Alphabetically Comes Before TextB** to the Start step. Map the **TextA** field to **FirstEntity** and **TextB** to **SecondEntity**.The Text AAlphabetically Comes Before TextB step will be used to determine which String is placed first in alphabetical order. The Strings will be sorted according to International Components for Unicode (ICU) order, For more information regarding ICU, see [International Components for Unicode.](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/informix-servers/12.10?topic=data-international-components-unicode-icu)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778692702198.png)
8. Connect the **True** path to **Entity First Sorts First**.
9. Attach another TextA Alphabetically Comes Before TextB step to the **False** path. Map TextA field to SecondEntity and TextB field to FirstEntity. Connect the **True** path to **Entity Second Sorts First** and the **False** path to **Entity First and Second Sorted the Same**. Click **Save** and close the Flow Designer.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778692883181.png)
10. Connect the Done path to the End step. Click Save to save changes to the Flow.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782480831412.png)

---

## Debug

1. On the top action bar, click **Debug**.
2. Click START DEBUGGING.
3. Select the Collection Sort Step, select **Execution 1**, and select **View Input/Output Data.** The output is the input list of the names in the input list placed in alphabetical order. 

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778693005873.png)