diff --git a/sas/package-lock.json b/sas/package-lock.json
index d85d7ba..3305ecb 100644
--- a/sas/package-lock.json
+++ b/sas/package-lock.json
@@ -229,12 +229,6 @@
         "@types/node": "*"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/@types/tough-cookie": {
-      "version": "4.0.5",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/tough-cookie/-/tough-cookie-4.0.5.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-/Ad8+nIOV7Rl++6f1BdKxFSMgmoqEoYbHRpPcx3JEfv8VRsQe9Z4mCXeJBzxs7mbHY/XOZZuXlRNfhpVPbs6ZA==",
-      "peer": true
-    },
     "node_modules/abab": {
       "version": "2.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abab/-/abab-2.0.6.tgz",
@@ -1933,12 +1927,6 @@
         "@types/node": "*"
       }
     },
-    "@types/tough-cookie": {
-      "version": "4.0.5",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/tough-cookie/-/tough-cookie-4.0.5.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-/Ad8+nIOV7Rl++6f1BdKxFSMgmoqEoYbHRpPcx3JEfv8VRsQe9Z4mCXeJBzxs7mbHY/XOZZuXlRNfhpVPbs6ZA==",
-      "peer": true
-    },
     "abab": {
       "version": "2.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abab/-/abab-2.0.6.tgz",
@@ -2965,8 +2953,7 @@
     "ws": {
       "version": "8.13.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ws/-/ws-8.13.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-x9vcZYTrFPC7aSIbj7sRCYo7L/Xb8Iy+pW0ng0wt2vCJv7M9HOMy0UoN3rr+IFC7hb7vXoqS+P9ktyLLLhO+LA==",
-      "requires": {}
+      "integrity": "sha512-x9vcZYTrFPC7aSIbj7sRCYo7L/Xb8Iy+pW0ng0wt2vCJv7M9HOMy0UoN3rr+IFC7hb7vXoqS+P9ktyLLLhO+LA=="
     },
     "xml": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
diff --git a/sas/sasjs/macros/mpe_makedata.sas b/sas/sasjs/macros/mpe_makedata.sas
index c02d872..ca70379 100644
--- a/sas/sasjs/macros/mpe_makedata.sas
+++ b/sas/sasjs/macros/mpe_makedata.sas
@@ -1874,6 +1874,16 @@ insert into &lib..MPE_VALIDATIONS set
     ,rule_value="services/validations/columns_in_libds"
     ,rule_active=1
     ,tx_to='31DEC5999:23:59:59'dt;
+/* test softselect on numeric var (should be ordered numerically) */
+insert into &lib..MPE_VALIDATIONS set
+    tx_from=0
+    ,base_lib="&lib"
+    ,base_ds="MPE_X_TEST"
+    ,base_col="SOME_BESTNUM"
+    ,rule_type='SOFTSELECT'
+    ,rule_value="&lib..MPE_X_TEST.SOME_BESTNUM"
+    ,rule_active=1
+    ,tx_to='31DEC5999:23:59:59'dt;
 insert into &lib..MPE_VALIDATIONS set
     tx_from=0
     ,base_lib="&lib"
diff --git a/sas/sasjs/services/editors/getdata.sas b/sas/sasjs/services/editors/getdata.sas
index 7e1d711..0979653 100755
--- a/sas/sasjs/services/editors/getdata.sas
+++ b/sas/sasjs/services/editors/getdata.sas
@@ -631,9 +631,14 @@ create table dqdata as
       select distinct "&&base_col&x" as base_col length=32
         ,"&source" as rule_value length=74
         ,cats(&col) as rule_data length=1000
-        ,0 as selectbox_order
+        ,&col as tmp_order
       from &lib..&ds
-      order by 1;
+      order by tmp_order;
+    /* ensure both numerics and char vals are ordered correctly */
+    data work.dqdata&x (drop=tmp_order);
+      set work.dqdata&x;
+      selectbox_order=_n_;
+    run;
     %mp_abort(iftrue= (&syscc ne 0)
       ,mac=&_program
       ,msg=%str(syscc=&syscc when selecting &&base_col&x from &orig_libds)