ui/src/main/java/ucar/nc2/ui/table/TableRowAbstract.java
public int compare( TableRow other, int col) {
    String s1 = getValueAt(col).toString();
    String s2 = other.getValueAt(col).toString();
    int ret = s1.compareToIgnoreCase( s2);

    // break ties
    if (ret == 0)
      return compareTie( other, col);
    return ret;
  }
public int compare( TableRow other, int col) {
    String s1 = getValueAt(col).toString();
    String s2 = other.getValueAt(col).toString();
    int ret = s1.compareToIgnoreCase( s2);

    // break ties
    if (ret == 0)
      return compareTie( other, col);
    return ret;
  }
for other behavior, override this; use compareXXX routines.