admin interface ignores multi-column ordering if it is set by default in the model

[shamardin@…]

Even if there are several fields specified for ordering by default in Meta ordering or Admin ordering, the resulting view in the admin interface is ordered only by the first field.

How to reproduce:

Create a new app with these models.py:

from django.db import models

class Test(models.Model):
  a = models.CharField(max_length=5)
  b = models.CharField(max_length=5)

  def __unicode__(self):
    return 'a=%s,b=%s' % (self.a, self.b)

  class Meta:
    ordering = ['-b', '-a']

  class Admin:
    pass

Populate with test data from shell:

In [1]: from test.models import *

In [2]: t1 = Test(a='1', b='10')

In [3]: t2 = Test(a='2', b='10')

In [4]: t3 = Test(a='1', b='11')

In [5]: t4 = Test(a='2', b='11')

In [6]: t1.save()

In [7]: t2.save()

In [8]: t3.save()

In [9]: t4.save()

Observe the correct ordering:

In [10]: Test.objects.all()
Out[10]: [<Test: a=2,b=11>, <Test: a=1,b=11>, <Test: a=2,b=10>, <Test: a=1,b=10>]

Now browse the Test model in the admin interface and observe the incorrect ordering:

a=1,b=11
a=2,b=11
a=1,b=10
a=2,b=10

[Ramiro Morales]

This is intended and documented behavior. See the bottom of the relevant documentation section (​http://www.djangoproject.com/documentation/model-api/#ordering)