A system and method adapted to facilitate efficient sorting and displaying of data in a table. An example method includes displaying a table with a first portion of data and a second portion of data; simultaneously applying a first sort rule to the first portion of data (primary database object(s)) and a second sort rule to the second portion of data (secondary database object(s)) in response to user selection of a sort option; and illustrating sorted data via the table, wherein the first sort rule is adapted to cause the first portion of data to appear in one or more predetermined locations in the table relative to the second portion of data. The second portion of data is sorted according to the second sort rule. In a more specific embodiment, primary database objects are sorted via the first sort rule and are not subject to the second sort rule. The first sort rule includes a specification that primary database objects be displayed at a predetermined location in the table, such as in an uppermost position in the table or in an upper most position in a purpose group section of the table.