Re: Using Generic Comparator in Oracle ORDER BY

Not in a position to check confirm it works in 9i, but in 10g you can definitely sort on the result of a select or function. Consider this as an example of the technique (although not a spectacular use of the capability)

  SELECT text
    FROM USER_SOURCE u
   ORDER BY (SELECT name||type||to_char(line)

               FROM USER_SOURCE b
              WHERE u.name=b.name
                AND u.type=b.type
                AND u.line=b.line)
      

or
  SELECT (col_list)
    FROM parts_explosion e
   ORDER BY (SELECT description

               FROM parts_description d
              WHERE e.part_no=d.part_id)

That might lead you in a favourable direction .

-- 
Hans Forbrich                           
Canada-wide Oracle training and consulting
mailto: Fuzzy.GreyBeard_at_gmail.com   
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