http://code.google.com/p/web2py/issues/detail?id=550, thanks Peter

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 1.99.3 (2011-12-04 15:26:39) dev
+Version 1.99.3 (2011-12-04 15:40:01) dev

gluon/sqlhtml.py

@@ -1672,15 +1672,13 @@ class SQLFORM(FORM):
         order = request.vars.order or ''
         if sortable:
             if order and not order=='None':
-                if order[:1]=='~':
+                tablename,fieldname = order.split('~')[-1].split('.',1)
-                    sign, rorder = '~', order[1:]
+                sort_field = db[tablename][fieldname]
+                exception = sort_field.type in ('date','datetime','time')
+                if exception:
+                    orderby = (order[:1]=='~' and sort_field) or ~sort_field
                 else:
-                    sign, rorder = '', order
+                    orderby = (order[:1]=='~' and ~sort_field) or sort_field
-                tablename,fieldname = rorder.split('.',1)
-                if sign=='~':
-                    orderby=~db[tablename][fieldname]
-                else:
-                    orderby=db[tablename][fieldname]
 
         head = TR(_class=ui.get('header',''))
         if selectable: