After some thought, you can simplify the sort order process by adopting
the convention that the left hand list is ascending, the right
descending. This also handles if there's only 1 or the other...

For both: "2,1,3:4,5"

For Ascending only: "2,1,3,4,5:"

For Descending only: ":2,1,3,4,5"

...and handle it like so...

Sub SortCols()
Dim bOrderBoth As Boolean
Dim vSortCriteria, vCols, vSortOrder

'Assume both sort orders
bOrderBoth = True
vSortCriteria = Split([SortCriteria], ":")
If LBound(vSortCriteria) = Empty Then _
bOrderBoth = False: vSortOrder = xlDescending: GoTo SortU
If UBound(vSortCriteria) = Empty Then _
bOrderBoth = False: vSortOrder = xlAscending: GoTo SortL

SortL:
If bOrderBoth Then vSortOrder = xlAscending
For Each v In Split(vSortCriteria(0), ",")
Columns(CLng(v)).Sort Key1:=Cells(1, CLng(v)), _
Order1:=vSortOrder, Header:=xlNo, _
OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, _
Orientation:=xlTopToBottom, _
DataOption1:=xlSortNormal
Next 'v
If Not bOrderBoth Then Exit Sub

SortU:
If bOrderBoth Then vSortOrder = xlDescending
For Each v In Split(vSortCriteria(1), ",")
Columns(CLng(v)).Sort Key1:=Cells(1, CLng(v)), _
Order1:=vSortOrder, Header:=xlNo, _
OrderCustom:=1, MatchCase:=False, _
Orientation:=xlTopToBottom, _
DataOption1:=xlSortNormal
Next 'v
End Sub

*Note:* This depicts as if still using col index. If you use col labels
then there's no need for the CLng() function...

[SortCriteria] = "b,a,c,d,e:" --OR-- "b,a,c:d,e" --OR-- ":b,a,c,d,e"

...for Ascending, both, or descending sort order.

--
Garry

Free uenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion