Fixed sort orders based on note properties available in config

README.md

@@ -85,6 +85,20 @@ display:
 
 Visual examples and more info: https://github.com/joplin/plugin-kanban/pull/19
 
+### Sort
+
+By default, the kanban plugin sorts each column based on the user's dragging and dropping of notes across the kanban board, with new notes going at the top. To specify a fixed sort pattern based on note properties instead, use the following config:
+
+```yaml
+```kanban
+sort:
+  by: title
+```
+
+Descending sort order may be specified by prefixing `-`, e.g., `-title`.
+
+The configured sort order will apply to all columns.
+
 ## Further information
 
 If you want to know more about the workings of the plugin or its development check out the [original proposal](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/kanban-board-project/17469) and the [progress reports](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/kanban-board-project/17469)

src/board.ts

@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ export default class Board {
    * i.e. sorted columns, messages, and hidden tags.
    */
   async getBoardState(allNotes: NoteData[]): Promise<BoardState> {
+    const config = this.parsedConfig;
     const state: BoardState = {
       name: this.boardName,
       messages: [],
@@ -231,8 +232,28 @@ export default class Board {
         sortedNotes
       ).map(([name, notes]) => ({ name, notes }));
 
+      let sortCol = config ? config.sort?.by : undefined;
+      let sortDir = 1;
+      if (sortCol !== undefined) {
+        if (sortCol.startsWith('-')) {
+          sortDir = -1;
+          sortCol = sortCol.substring(1);
+        }
+      }
       Object.values(sortedColumns).forEach((col) =>
         col.notes.sort((a, b) => {
+          if (sortCol !== undefined) {
+            const va = (a as any)[sortCol];
+            const vb = (b as any)[sortCol];
+            const v = (
+                (typeof va === "string")
+                  ? va.toLocaleLowerCase().localeCompare(vb.toLocaleLowerCase())
+                  : va - vb
+            );
+            return v * sortDir;
+          }
+
+          // Otherwise, use user-order specified on Kanban board
           if (a.order < b.order) return +1;
           if (a.order > b.order) return -1;
           return a.createdTime < b.createdTime ? +1 : -1;

src/parser.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ export const validateConfig = (config: Config | {} | null): Message | null => {
     }
   }
 
+  if ("sort" in config) {
+    if (typeof config.sort !== "object" || config.sort.by === undefined)
+      return configErr("Sort must be a dictionary with a single 'by' field");
+    let cs = config.sort.by;
+    if (cs.startsWith('-')) cs = cs.substring(1);
+    if (['createdTime', 'title'].indexOf(cs) === -1)
+      return configErr("Sort must be one of 'createdTime', 'title'; optionally prefix by '-' for descending order");
+  }
+
   for (const col of config.columns) {
     if (typeof col !== "object" || Array.isArray(col))
       return configErr(

src/types.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ export interface Config {
     [ruleName: string]: RuleValue;
     rootNotebookPath?: string;
   };
+  sort: {
+    by?: string;
+  };
   columns: {
     [ruleName: string]: RuleValue;
     name: string;