Sorting numbers in textfield in ElasticSearch - sorting

Question

I've a issue when sorting a field in ElasticSearch with text and numbers in the same field.
My pattern is something like this: "text/number/year/text".
I'm trying sort by this, but I get something like this:
"hits": [
{
"_source": {
"fields": {
"numbered": "text/1/year/text",
"numbered-number": "1"
}
},
"sort": [
"1"
]
},
{
"_source": {
"fields": {
"numbered": "text/10/year/text",
"numbered-number": "10"
}
},
"sort": [
"10"
]
},
{
"_source": {
"fields": {
"numbered": "text/11/year/text",
"numbered-number": "11"
}
},
"sort": [
"11"
]
},
...
{
"_source": {
"fields": {
"numbered": "text/19/year/text",
"numbered-number": "19"
}
},
"sort": [
"19"
]
},
{
"_source": {
"fields": {
"numbered": "text/2/year/text",
"numbered-number": "2"
}
},
"sort": [
"2"
]
},
Well, ElasticSearch are sorting this 1, 10, 11, 12, ..., 19, 2, 20, 21... How can I resolve this issue? I just need Natural Sort.
UPDATED:
I try this script, but it's not working too.
POST myindex/_search
{
"from": 0,
"size": 40,
"sort": [
{
"_script": {
"type": "string",
"script": {
"inline":
"if ('fields.myfield.sort' =~ /\\d+/) { return Integer.parseInt(doc['fields.myfield.sort'].value); }"
},
"order" : "asc"
}
}
],
"_source": { "include": ["fields.myfield"] }
}
Error
"reason": {
"type": "null_pointer_exception",
"reason": null

Answer 1

You could use a scripted sort to sort by integer value rather than lexicographically (which is how text will sort)
var searchResponse = client.Search<MyDocument>(s => s
.Sort(so => so
.Script(ss => ss
.Script(sc => sc
.Inline("Integer.parseInt(doc['numbered-number'].value)")
)
)
)
);
The better way however would be to explicitly map numbered-number field as an integer. In doing so, you'll be able to sort on the field as expected.