Ако имате SQL 2008, можете да използвате новия тип данни hierarchyid:
WITH Items (ItemNumber) AS (
SELECT '1' UNION ALL SELECT '1.1' UNION ALL SELECT '1.1.1'
UNION ALL SELECT '10' UNION ALL SELECT '11' UNION ALL SELECT '2'
UNION ALL SELECT '2.1' UNION ALL SELECT '20' UNION ALL SELECT '3'
UNION ALL SELECT '30'
)
SELECT *
FROM Items
ORDER BY Convert(hierarchyid, '/' + ItemNumber + '/');