How to sort a tooltip table viz in ascending or descending order automatically based on field value

[ldwf]

I have a simple table visual that I am using in a tooltip that needs to be sorted, but the requirement is not to sort it by default in either ascending or descending order by a certain value, but rather to sort it in either ascending or descending order dynamically depending on a field value for the row the user hovers over.  The field is called 'Direction', and if the Direction value for that row is 'Up', I want the rows in the tooltip to be sorted by the measure  in ascending order; and if the Direction is 'Down', I want the rows sorted by the measure in descending order.  The Direction value will always be either 'Up' or 'Down' for every record in the tooltip visual, whenever the user hovers over the row in the table.  Currently I am sorting it in descending order by the measure, but depending on the record the user hovers over, they may need it sorted in ascending order.

[ldwf · Accepted solution]

I was able to get this to work by just creating a dynamic rank measure, then adding it to the tooltip visual, then sorting the visual in ascending order by this rank measure.  This is the DAX code for the measure:

Dynamic Rank =

var SortDirection=[Goal Direction]

RETURN

 SWITCH(

    TRUE(),

    SortDirection="Up",

        RANKX(ALLSELECTED('Fact Table'),[Current and Prior Month Variance], ,ASC,Dense),

    SortDirection="Down",

        RANKX(ALLSELECTED('Fact Table'),[Current and Prior Month Variance], ,DESC,Dense)

 )

[v-abhinavmu]

Hi @ldwf,

Thank you for posting your query in the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum, and thanks to @danextian & @Shravan133  for sharing valuable insights.

Could you please confirm if your query has been resolved by the provided solutions? This would be helpful for other members who may encounter similar issues.

Thank you for being part of the Microsoft Fabric Community.

[danextian]

Hi @ldwf

Power BI does not have awareness of which measure is being hovered in a table or matrix visual. A common workaround is to use a matrix visual and format it to look like a table, combined with a disconnected table that holds the measure names and is referenced in a separate column. For this to work, the measure name field must be used in the column headers so the visual can establish context.

That said, this approach comes with limitations, most notably that the measure name column cannot be positioned between other columns, which can restrict layout flexibility.

Please see the attached sample pbix.

[Shravan133]

Instead of trying to toggle ascending/descending sorting, you convert everything into a single sorting column where the logic flips the sign when needed.

Step 1: Create a sort measure

Assume your main measure is: [MyMeasure]

Dynamic Sort Value =
VAR Dir = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Direction])
RETURN
    IF(
        Dir = "Up",
        [MyMeasure],          -- ascending behavior
        -[MyMeasure]          -- descending behavior
    )

Step 2: Use this in the tooltip table

In your tooltip table visual:

• Keep displaying:
• Dimension fields
• [MyMeasure]
• But sort by:
• Dynamic Sort Value

Power BI always sorts ascending internally, but:

• If values are normal → ascending sort = normal ascending
• If values are negated → ascending sort = effectively descending

So:

• Up → sort by real values
• Down → sort by inverted values

Step 3: Set sorting

In the tooltip visual:

1. Click the visual
2. Sort by → Dynamic Sort Value
3. Sort direction → Ascending (always)