---
title: Display result sort options in a dropdown
slug: '3316'
canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/3316/
collection: coveo-for-sitecore-v5
source_format: adoc
---
# Display result sort options in a dropdown
> **Legacy feature**
>
> The Coveo Hive Framework is now in maintenance mode and is no longer recommended for new implementations.
> 
> To build new search experiences, use one of Coveo's more modern, lightweight, and responsive libraries.
> To get started, see the [Build search](https://docs.coveo.com/en/2473/) article.


[.version.c4sc.c4sc-new.5-0-788-5.September-18&-2020]
[Coveo for Sitecore 5.0.788.5](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3314#release-notes)


The [Add Related Controls](https://docs.coveo.com/en/2506/) article describes how you can add search result [sort controls](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3009/) to your search interface.
By default, one sort button per rendering is added and, when both sort directions are enabled in the rendering data source, clicking the button toggles the sort direction.

However, having one button per sort criterion to provide several sorting options can clutter the search interface.
Displaying all sort options in a dropdown list then becomes a better solution.

## Two Ways to Display Sort Options

Enabling the [`Enable sort dropdown` data source option](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3052#data-source-options) of the **Results Sorts Section** rendering replaces side-by-side sort option buttons with a single dropdown list that contains all result sorting options you want to make available.

![Enable sort dropdown disabled versus enabled | Coveo for Sitecore 5](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/c4sc-v5/enable-sort-dropdown-options.gif)

> **Note**
>
> When choosing `Relevancy` as the sort criterion, the `Enable both sort directions` option has no effect.
> You can only sort results from the most relevant to the least.

## Default Captions for Sort Options

When the `Enable both sort directions` option is enabled on date sort or field sort options, `Descending` and `Ascending` will be appended to the `Caption` option value.
For example, when the `Date Sort` data source caption is `Date`, the dropdown list will have `Date Descending` and `Date Ascending` options.

> **Note**
>
> Coveo for Sitecore packages add dictionary items for the `Descending` and `Ascending` key captions in `/sitecore/system/Dictionary/Coveo Hive/Search Sections/`.
> You can override these captions (that is, the `Phrase` field value) using the [`Additional Dictionaries` data source option](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3033#data-source-options) of the **Coveo Search Resources** rendering.
> Version your custom dictionary items as needed to support multiple languages.

## Custom Captions for a Specific Sort Option

You can create custom captions on a per sort option basis.

**Example**

To create a date based sort displaying the `Newest first` and `Oldest first` options

. Configure the `Newest first` **Coveo Date Sort**:

.. In the Sitecore Experience Editor, select the existing **Coveo Date Sort** rendering.

.. In the floating toolbar, select the **Edit the rendering's data source** option.
It should be the leftmost option in the toolbar.

.. Uncheck the `Enable both sort directions` option.
This option is responsible for appending `Descending` or `Ascending` after the defined `Caption` option.

.. Set the `Sort direction` to `Descending`.

.. Set the `Caption` to `Newest first`.

![Image of the Coveo Date Sort rendering data source | Coveo for Sitecore 5](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/c4sc-v5/newest-first-custom-sort-caption.png)

. Configure the `Oldest first` **Coveo Date Sort**.

.. Select the **Sorts** placeholder above your existing Coveo Date Sort rendering.

.. Select **Add here** and select **Coveo Date Sort** in the **Select a Rendering** window.

.. In the **Select the Associated Content** window, create the data source item in your preferred location.

.. Save the page.

.. In the floating toolbar of the **Coveo Date Sort** you just created, select **Edit the rendering's data source**.

.. Uncheck the `Enable both sort directions` option.

.. Set the `Sort direction` to `Ascending`.

.. Set the `Caption` to `Oldest first`.

![Image of the Coveo Date Sort rendering data source | Coveo for Sitecore 5](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/c4sc-v5/oldest-first-custom-sort-caption.png)

. Select the **Results Sort Section** rendering.

. In the floating toolbar, select the **Edit the rendering's data source** option.

. Check the `Enable sort dropdown` option.

. You're now ready to test your new sorts.

![Date sort Newest first and Oldest first | Coveo for Sitecore 5](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/c4sc-v5/date-sort-newest-oldest.png)