Template:Time table sorting/doc

This template is intended for use in sortable tables of results in athletic events, to ensure that columns of times achieved by athletes will sort correctly.

This template is not needed if all the times in the relevant table are of exactly the same length and format. For example, results of a one-mile race for elite athletes will usually be of the form m:ss.dd (minutes, seconds, decimals of a second). These will sort correctly, without this template's being necessary, provided the seconds have leading zeroes, and the decimals trailing zeroes where necessary.

However, in a longer race, where the results include times both below and above 10 minutes, then times of 10 to 19 minutes will sort before any lower time of 2 minutes and above. A similar problem occurs in tables holding results above and below 1 minute, or above and below 1 hour, or in tables holding results above and below 10 hours.

This template supplies one way to avoid this problem (see "Possible workaround" below for another).

Use
Just wrap each time in the relevant column with this template, for example. If this template is used, then it must be used on every row of the table.

If times are to be displayed in bold, use. Note that placing the bolding mark up outside the template will not work.

Formatting
Times displayed by this template are right-aligned to ensure that hours, minutes, seconds and decimals are neatly aligned within the column.

Possible workaround
Consider typing leading zeroes, so that all times are of the same length and format. This may be preferable if not many of the results require such leading zeroes, or if there is consensus that results should be presented with leading zeroes.

Limitation
None of the times should need more than 12 characters to represent its value (this limit could be changed if necessary).