Sort Transformation
Applies to: 
SQL Server
SSIS Integration Runtime in Azure Data Factory
The Sort transformation sorts input data in ascending or descending order and copies the sorted data to the transformation output. You can apply multiple sorts to an input; each sort is identified by a numeral that determines the sort order. The column with the lowest number is sorted first, the sort column with the second lowest number is sorted next, and so on. For example, if a column named CountryRegion has a sort order of 1 and a column named City has a sort order of 2, the output is sorted by country/region and then by city. A positive number denotes that the sort is ascending, and a negative number denotes that the sort is descending. Columns that are not sorted have a sort order of 0. Columns that are not selected for sorting are automatically copied to the transformation output together with the sorted columns.
The Sort transformation includes a set of comparison options to define how the transformation handles the string data in a column. For more information, see Comparing String Data.
Note
The Sort transformation does not sort GUIDs in the same order as the ORDER BY clause does in Transact-SQL. While the Sort transformation sorts GUIDs that start with 0-9 before GUIDs that start with A-F, the ORDER BY clause, as implemented in the SQL Server Database Engine, sorts them differently. For more information, see ORDER BY Clause (Transact-SQL).
The Sort transformation can also remove duplicate rows as part of its sort. Duplicate rows are rows with the same sort key values. The sort key value is generated based on the string comparison options being used, which means that different literal strings may have the same sort key values. The transformation identifies rows in the input columns that have different values but the same sort key as duplicates.
The Sort transformation includes the MaximumThreads custom property that can be updated by a property expression when the package is loaded. For more information, see Integration Services (SSIS) Expressions, Use Property Expressions in Packages, and Transformation Custom Properties.
This transformation has one input and one output. It does not support error outputs.
Configuration of the Sort Transformation
You can set properties through the SSIS Designer or programmatically.
The Advanced Editor dialog box reflects the properties that can be set programmatically. For more information about the properties that you can set in the Advanced Editor dialog box or programmatically, click one of the following topics:
Related Tasks
For more information about how to set properties of the component, see Set the Properties of a Data Flow Component.
Sort Transformation Editor
Use the Sort Transformation Editor dialog box to select the columns to sort, set the sort order, and specify whether duplicates are removed.
Options
Available Input Columns
Using the check boxes, specify the columns to sort.
Name
View the name of each available input column.
Passthrough
Indicate whether to include the column in the sorted output.
Input Column
Select from the list of available input columns for each row. Your selections are reflected in the check box selections in the Available Input Columns table.
Output Alias
Type an alias for each output column. The default is the name of the input column; however, you can choose any unique, descriptive name.
Sort Type
Indicate whether to sort in ascending or descending order.
Sort Order
Indicate the order in which to sort columns. This must be set manually for each column.
Comparison Flags
For information about the string comparison options, see Comparing String Data.
Remove rows with duplicate sort values
Indicate whether the transformation copies duplicate rows to the transformation output, or creates a single entry for all duplicates, based on the specified string comparison options.