Mac OS X, j2sdk 1.5.06, build 0707241200
&
Product Version: NetBeans IDE Dev (Build 200707270000) 
Java: 1.6.0_02; Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM 1.6.0_02-b06 System: 
Windows XP version 5.1 running on x86;

1. Connect to DB Derby Travel
2. Use poup menu item "Design Query..." on DB table "Person"
3. In the opened Query Editor:
- in the column pane click the cell ("PERSONID" - "Sort Type") and select "Ascending"
    Result:
    - number "1" will appear in the cell ("PERSONID" - "Sort Order")
- in the column pane click the cell ("NAME" - "Sort Type") and select "Descending"
    Result:
    - number "2" will appear in the cell ("NAME" - "Sort Order")
    - in SQL pane the following clause will be added:
      ORDER BY "TRAVEL"."PERSON"."PERSONID" ASC, 
               "TRAVEL"."PERSON"."NAME" DESC 
4. In the column pane click the cell ("PERSONID" - "Sort Order")
    Result:
    - combo-box contains items " ", "1", "2", "3"

The number "3" is superfluous. 

Its using in column pane has no effect for SQL pane.
If you set "2" for "PERSONID" and "1" for "NAME" in column pane, then in SQL pane a clause will appear:
ORDER BY "TRAVEL"."PERSON"."NAME" DESC, 
         "TRAVEL"."PERSON"."PERSONID" ASC 

Then set "3" for "NAME" in column pane - nothing happens in SQL pane.