Method for sorting postal items and data structure for a sorting plan

A method for sorting a mailpiece, the mailpiece being diverted into a sorting compartment of a sorting machine as a function of a sorting code associated with the mailpiece, where several sorting code ranges are each associated with a sorting compartment, the method comprising:

• associating at least one first sorting code range indicated in a first hierarchical level with at least another sorting code range indicated in a lower hierarchical level, the other sorting code range being a subrange of the first sorting code range;
• checking consecutively for the sorting code ranges associated with each other whether the sorting code belongs to the sorting code range;
• and
• diverting the mailpiece into the sorting compartment that is associated with the last sorting code range for which the sorting code belongs to the sorting code range, the mailpiece being diverted into the sorting compartment that is associated with the sorting code range indicated in the first hierarchical level, if it is determined that the sorting code does not belong to one of the sorting code ranges indicated in the lower hierarchical level.