By default, the control automatically sort a column when the user clicks the column's header. Use the DefaultSortOrder property to specify the column's default sort order, when the user first clicks the column's header. Use the SortType property to determine the way how the column is sorted. Use the DisplaySortIcon property to hide the sort icon if the column is sorted. 

The control automatically sorts a column when the user clicks the column's header, if the SortOnClick property is exDefaultSort. If the SortOnClick property is exNoSort, the control disables sorting the items when the user clicks the column's header.

There are two methods to get the items sorted like follows:

• Using the SortOrder property of the Column object. The following VB snippet of code sorts the column "Column 1" ascending:

  ComboBox1.Columns("Column 1").SortOrder = SortAscending

  The SortOrder property adds the sorting icon to the column's header, if the DisplaySortIcon property is True.

• Using the SortChildren method of the Items collection. The SortChildren sorts the items. The SortChildren method sorts the child items of the given parent item in the control. SortChildren will not recourse through the tree, only the immediate children of the item will be sorted. The following sample sorts descending the list of root items on the "Column 1"( if your control displays a list, all items are considered being root items ).

  ComboBox1.Items.SortChildren 0, "Column 1", False