Handling changes in automatic sort

A system comprising:

• memory;
• a computer processor coupled to the memory;
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the instructions configuring the system to:
• associate a tri-state variable with a table for use in a database, the tri-state variable having a value selected from the group consisting of an automatic sort enforced state, an automatic sort recommended state, and an automatic sort not provided state, the value of the tri-state variable determining whether automatic sorting is performed on the table at run time;
• receive a request to change the value of the tri-state variable from a current value to a next value;
• and
• enforce a set of state transition rules in order to determine whether to change the value of the tri-state variable from the current value to the next value, the state transition rules being dependent upon the entity, the current value, and the next value.

A machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, configure the machine to:

• receive a request to modify a value of a tri-state variable associated with a data structure from a current value to a next value, the current value and the next value being selected from a group consisting of a function enforced state, a function recommended state, and a function not provided state;
• when the current value is the function enforced state, and when the next value is the function recommended state, set the value of the tri-state variable to the next value;
• when the current value is the function recommended state, and when the next value is the function not provided state, set the value of the tri-state variable to the next value;
• and
• when the current value is the function not provided state and when the next value is the function enforced state, issue a warning.