diff --git a/src/qtgui/guiutils.cpp b/src/qtgui/guiutils.cpp
index 66910fd8..297c80b9 100644
--- a/src/qtgui/guiutils.cpp
+++ b/src/qtgui/guiutils.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #ifndef lint
-static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: guiutils.cpp,v 1.19 2006-09-15 16:49:27 dockes Exp $ (C) 2005 Jean-Francois Dockes";
+static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: guiutils.cpp,v 1.20 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $ (C) 2005 Jean-Francois Dockes";
 #endif
 /*
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -157,6 +157,11 @@ void rwSettings(bool writing)
     SETTING_RW(prefs.syntAbsCtx, "/Recoll/prefs/query/syntAbsCtx", 
 	       Num, 4);
 
+    SETTING_RW(prefs.sortWidth, "/Recoll/prefs/query/sortWidth", 
+	       Num, 100);
+    SETTING_RW(prefs.sortSpec, "/Recoll/prefs/query/sortSpec", 
+	       Num, 0);
+
     // Ssearch combobox history list
     if (writing) {
 	settings.writeEntry("/Recoll/prefs/query/ssearchHistory",
diff --git a/src/qtgui/guiutils.h b/src/qtgui/guiutils.h
index b663f835..1efbd801 100644
--- a/src/qtgui/guiutils.h
+++ b/src/qtgui/guiutils.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #ifndef _GUIUTILS_H_INCLUDED_
 #define _GUIUTILS_H_INCLUDED_
 /* 
- * @(#$Id: guiutils.h,v 1.11 2006-09-15 16:49:27 dockes Exp $  (C) 2005 Jean-Francois Dockes 
+ * @(#$Id: guiutils.h,v 1.12 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $  (C) 2005 Jean-Francois Dockes 
  *                         jean-francois.dockes@wanadoo.fr
  *
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ class PrefsPack {
     int syntAbsLen;
     int syntAbsCtx;
 
+    // Sort specs (sort_w.cpp knows how to deal with the values
+    int sortWidth;
+    int sortSpec;
+
     PrefsPack() :
 	showicons(true), 
 	respagesize(8), 
diff --git a/src/qtgui/rclmain.cpp b/src/qtgui/rclmain.cpp
index 09218b9f..7458cf11 100644
--- a/src/qtgui/rclmain.cpp
+++ b/src/qtgui/rclmain.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #ifndef lint
-static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: rclmain.cpp,v 1.32 2006-09-13 13:53:35 dockes Exp $ (C) 2005 J.F.Dockes";
+static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: rclmain.cpp,v 1.33 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $ (C) 2005 J.F.Dockes";
 #endif
 /*
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -368,8 +368,8 @@ void RclMain::showSortDialog()
 	sortform = new SortForm(0, tr("Sort criteria"), FALSE,
 				    WStyle_Customize | WStyle_NormalBorder | 
 				    WStyle_Title | WStyle_SysMenu);
-	connect(sortform, SIGNAL(sortDataChanged(RclSortSpec)), 
-		this, SLOT(sortDataChanged(RclSortSpec)));
+	connect(sortform, SIGNAL(sortDataChanged(DocSeqSortSpec)), 
+		this, SLOT(sortDataChanged(DocSeqSortSpec)));
 	sortform->show();
     } else {
 	// Close and reopen, in hope that makes us visible...
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ void RclMain::showDocHistory()
 }
 
 
-void RclMain::sortDataChanged(RclSortSpec spec)
+void RclMain::sortDataChanged(DocSeqSortSpec spec)
 {
     LOGDEB(("RclMain::sortDataChanged\n"));
     sortspecs = spec;
diff --git a/src/qtgui/rclmain.h b/src/qtgui/rclmain.h
index 782d414f..0d628445 100644
--- a/src/qtgui/rclmain.h
+++ b/src/qtgui/rclmain.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public slots:
     virtual void showAboutDialog();
     virtual void startManual();
     virtual void showDocHistory();
-    virtual void sortDataChanged(RclSortSpec spec);
+    virtual void sortDataChanged(DocSeqSortSpec spec);
     virtual void showUIPrefs();
     virtual void setUIPrefs();
     virtual void enableNextPage(bool);
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ private:
     AdvSearch *asearchform;
     SortForm *sortform;
     UIPrefsDialog *uiprefs;
-    RclSortSpec sortspecs;
+    DocSeqSortSpec sortspecs;
     int m_searchId; // Serial number of current search for this process.
                   // Used to match to preview windows
     virtual void init();
diff --git a/src/qtgui/sort_w.cpp b/src/qtgui/sort_w.cpp
index 94fb132e..83303608 100644
--- a/src/qtgui/sort_w.cpp
+++ b/src/qtgui/sort_w.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #ifndef lint
-static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: sort_w.cpp,v 1.1 2006-09-04 15:13:01 dockes Exp $ (C) 2006 J.F.Dockes";
+static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: sort_w.cpp,v 1.2 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $ (C) 2006 J.F.Dockes";
 #endif
 /*
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: sort_w.cpp,v 1.1 2006-09-04 15:13:01 dockes Exp $
 
 #include "sortseq.h"
 #include "debuglog.h"
+#include "guiutils.h"
+
 #include "sort_w.h"
 
 void SortForm::init()
@@ -35,8 +37,30 @@ void SortForm::init()
     labels[2] = "Mime type";
     labels[3] = 0;
     fldCMB1->insertStrList(labels, 3);
-    fldCMB1->setCurrentItem(0);
-    fldCMB2->insertStrList(labels, 3); fldCMB2->setCurrentItem(0);
+    fldCMB2->insertStrList(labels, 3); 
+
+    // Initialize values from prefs:
+    mcntSB->setValue(prefs.sortWidth);
+    unsigned int spec = (unsigned int)prefs.sortSpec;
+
+    // We use 4 bits per spec hi is direction, 3 low bits = sort field
+    unsigned int v, d;
+
+    v = spec & (0xf & ~(1<<3));
+    d = spec & (1 << 3);
+    spec >>= 4;
+    fldCMB1->setCurrentItem(v < 3 ? v : 0);
+    descCB1->setChecked(d!=0?true:false);
+
+    v = spec & (0xf & ~(1<<3));
+    d = spec & (1 << 3);
+    spec >>= 4;
+    fldCMB2->setCurrentItem(v < 3 ? v : 0);
+    descCB2->setChecked(d!=0?true:false);
+
+    // Always start with sort disabled
+    sortCB->setChecked(false);
+
     // signals and slots connections
     connect(resetPB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(reset()));
     connect(closePB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(close()));
@@ -62,7 +86,7 @@ void SortForm::reset()
 void SortForm::setData()
 {
     LOGDEB(("SortForm::setData\n"));
-    RclSortSpec spec;
+    DocSeqSortSpec spec;
 
     mcntSB->setEnabled(sortCB->isChecked());
     fldCMB1->setEnabled(sortCB->isChecked());
@@ -76,23 +100,34 @@ void SortForm::setData()
 	bool desc = descCB1->isChecked();
 	switch (fldCMB1->currentItem()) {
 	case 1: 
-	    spec.addCrit(RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_MTIME, desc?true:false);
+	    spec.addCrit(DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_MTIME, desc?true:false);
 	    break;
 	case 2: 
-	    spec.addCrit(RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_MIMETYPE, desc?true:false);
+	    spec.addCrit(DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_MIMETYPE, desc?true:false);
 	    break;
 	}
 
 	desc = descCB2->isChecked();
 	switch (fldCMB2->currentItem()) {
 	case 1: 
-	    spec.addCrit(RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_MTIME, desc?true:false);
+	    spec.addCrit(DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_MTIME, desc?true:false);
 	    break;
 	case 2: 
-	    spec.addCrit(RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_MIMETYPE, desc?true:false);
+	    spec.addCrit(DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_MIMETYPE, desc?true:false);
 	    break;
 	}
 	spec.sortwidth = mcntSB->value();
+
+	// Set data in prefs;
+	prefs.sortWidth = spec.sortwidth;
+	unsigned int spec = 0, v, d;
+	v = fldCMB1->currentItem() & 0x7;
+	d = descCB1->isChecked() ? 8 : 0;
+	spec |=  (d|v);
+	v = fldCMB2->currentItem() & 0x7;
+	d = descCB2->isChecked() ? 8 : 0;
+	spec |= (d|v) << 4;
+	prefs.sortSpec = (int) spec;
     }
     emit sortDataChanged(spec);
 }
diff --git a/src/qtgui/sort_w.h b/src/qtgui/sort_w.h
index 4293739f..da404b89 100644
--- a/src/qtgui/sort_w.h
+++ b/src/qtgui/sort_w.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* @(#$Id: sort_w.h,v 1.1 2006-09-04 15:13:01 dockes Exp $  (C) 2005 J.F.Dockes */
+/* @(#$Id: sort_w.h,v 1.2 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $  (C) 2005 J.F.Dockes */
 /*
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public slots:
     virtual void setData();
 
 signals:
-    void sortDataChanged(RclSortSpec);
+    void sortDataChanged(DocSeqSortSpec);
 
 private:
     virtual void init();
diff --git a/src/query/sortseq.cpp b/src/query/sortseq.cpp
index 82d4837d..e68aca49 100644
--- a/src/query/sortseq.cpp
+++ b/src/query/sortseq.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #ifndef lint
-static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: sortseq.cpp,v 1.7 2006-04-20 09:20:10 dockes Exp $ (C) 2005 J.F.Dockes";
+static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: sortseq.cpp,v 1.8 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $ (C) 2005 J.F.Dockes";
 #endif
 /*
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: sortseq.cpp,v 1.7 2006-04-20 09:20:10 dockes Exp
 using std::string;
 
 class CompareDocs { 
-    RclSortSpec ss;
+    DocSeqSortSpec ss;
 public: 
-    CompareDocs(const RclSortSpec &sortspec) : ss(sortspec) {}
+    CompareDocs(const DocSeqSortSpec &sortspec) : ss(sortspec) {}
 
     // It's not too clear in the std::sort doc what this should do. This 
     // behaves as operator< 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public:
 	// be made if previous order ones are equal.
 	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < ss.crits.size(); i++) {
 	    switch (ss.crits[i]) {
-	    case RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_MTIME:
+	    case DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_MTIME:
 		{
 		    long xmtime = x->dmtime.empty() ? atol(x->fmtime.c_str()) :
 			atol(x->dmtime.c_str());
@@ -53,21 +53,21 @@ public:
 			return 0;
 		}
 		break;
-	    case RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_URL:
+	    case DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_URL:
 		LOGDEB1((" URL\n"));
 		if (ss.dirs[i] ? x->url > y->url :  x->url < y->url)
 		    return 1;
 		else if (x->url != y->url)
 		    return 0;
 		break;
-	    case RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_IPATH: 
+	    case DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_IPATH: 
 		LOGDEB1((" IPATH\n"));
 		if (ss.dirs[i] ? x->ipath > y->ipath : x->ipath < y->ipath)
 		    return 1;
 		else if (x->ipath != y->ipath)
 		    return 0;
 		break;
-	    case RclSortSpec::RCLFLD_MIMETYPE:
+	    case DocSeqSortSpec::RCLFLD_MIMETYPE:
 		LOGDEB1((" MIMETYPE\n"));
 		if (ss.dirs[i] ? x->mimetype > y->mimetype : 
 		    x->mimetype < y->mimetype)
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public:
     } 
 };
 
-DocSeqSorted::DocSeqSorted(DocSequence &iseq, RclSortSpec &sortspec,
+DocSeqSorted::DocSeqSorted(DocSequence &iseq, DocSeqSortSpec &sortspec,
 			   const std::string &t)
     : DocSequence(t)
 {
diff --git a/src/query/sortseq.h b/src/query/sortseq.h
index b66e7c5e..e8d60d8f 100644
--- a/src/query/sortseq.h
+++ b/src/query/sortseq.h
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@
  */
 #ifndef _SORTSEQ_H_INCLUDED_
 #define _SORTSEQ_H_INCLUDED_
-/* @(#$Id: sortseq.h,v 1.6 2006-04-20 09:20:10 dockes Exp $  (C) 2004 J.F.Dockes */
+/* @(#$Id: sortseq.h,v 1.7 2006-09-21 09:37:28 dockes Exp $  (C) 2004 J.F.Dockes */
 
 #include <vector>
 #include <string>
 
 #include "docseq.h"
 
-class RclSortSpec {
+class DocSeqSortSpec {
  public:
-    RclSortSpec() : sortwidth(0) {}
+    DocSeqSortSpec() : sortwidth(0) {}
     int sortwidth; // We only re-sort the first sortwidth most relevant docs
     enum Field {RCLFLD_URL, RCLFLD_IPATH, RCLFLD_MIMETYPE, RCLFLD_MTIME};
     void addCrit(Field fld, bool desc = false) {
@@ -42,14 +42,14 @@ class RclSortSpec {
  */
 class DocSeqSorted : public DocSequence {
  public:
-    DocSeqSorted(DocSequence &iseq, RclSortSpec &sortspec, 
+    DocSeqSorted(DocSequence &iseq, DocSeqSortSpec &sortspec, 
 		 const std::string &t);
     virtual ~DocSeqSorted() {}
     virtual bool getDoc(int num, Rcl::Doc &doc, int *percent, string *sh = 0);
     virtual int getResCnt() {return m_spec.sortwidth;}
 
  private:
-    RclSortSpec m_spec;
+    DocSeqSortSpec m_spec;
     std::vector<Rcl::Doc> m_docs;
     std::vector<Rcl::Doc *> m_docsp;
 };