---
title: "Important: An incomplete default sorting keeps the default"
manual: "Academic Programs"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/fgtclb/academic-programs:important-incomplete-program-sorting-keeps-the-default@main"
source: "Changelog/2.4/Important-IncompleteProgramSortingKeepsTheDefault.rst"
rendered: "2026-10-17T08:47:58+00:00"
---

# Important: An incomplete default sorting keeps the default {#important-incomplete-program-sorting-keeps-the-default}

## Description {#description}

The program list splits its **Default sorting** into a field and a
direction. A value that is not a field and a direction stopped the content
element with a PHP error on every request without a selection of the visitor:
an empty value, a field alone such as
`plugin.tx_academicprograms.settings.sorting = title` for an
element that stores no sorting of its own, or a value set by an import or a
hand-written FlexForm.

Such a value is now ignored, and the element sorts by title, A to Z, the
default of the extension. A value of more than two words, whose first two
words were applied before, is now ignored as well. Extra spaces no longer
change what applies: a field and a direction after a leading space, which fell
back to title, A to Z, before, and a field and a direction separated by more
than one space, which lost the direction before, are now both applied.

## Impact {#impact}

-   An element that failed with `Undefined array key 1` or with a
    `TypeError` of `ProgramDemand::setSortingDirection()` renders its
    programs again, sorted by title. Set a **Default sorting** in the
    element or, for an element that stores no sorting of its own, a field and
    a direction such as `title desc` in TypoScript, to get another order.
-   A value of more than two words now sorts by title, A to Z, instead of by
    its first two words.
-   A value of the **Default sorting** select is applied as before.
-   Behaviour is identical on every supported TYPO3 version.