mysql - SQL sort column A & update column B -

i have table data similar to:

inven    descript     printorder --------------------------------- 1        d             9 2        b             0 3                    5 4        z             0 5        x             1 .        .             . .        .             . .        .             . 

i sort table on column descript descending alpha (a - z) , update column printorder when done, record printorder = 1 the highest alpha (a) , record highest value printorder lowest in alpha (z).

is possible without using temporary columns? not deal breaker if not, preference.

desired result:

to update printorder values based on sorting result

inven    descript     printorder --------------------------------- 1        d             3 2        b             2 3                    1 4        z             5 5        x             4 

i unclear whether want modify table or create result set. here solution latter using standard sql:

select inven, descript, row_number() on (order descript) printorder table t order descript; 

edit:

in mysql, select like:

select t.* (select inven, descript, (@rn := @rn + 1) printorder       table t cross join (select @rn := 0) params       order descript      ) t order inven; 

the update trickier, because cannot sort and initialize variable:

update t     set printorder = (@rn := coalesce(@rn + 1, 1))     order descript;