Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Join the Fabric FabCon Global Hackathon—running virtually through Nov 3. Open to all skill levels. $10,000 in prizes! Register now.

Reply
averilboyle
Frequent Visitor

Month Name in sorting order in Direct Query

Hi

 

I have a direct query where I have added a new column from the date field.  In this column I have the following formula:

 

MonthName = SWITCH(MONTH(Query1[Date Raised]),1,"January",2,"February",3,"March",4,"April",5,"May",6,"June",7,"July",8,"August",9,"September",10,"October",11,"November",12,"December")

 

The problem I have is that it is sorting the data alphabetically, so now December comes before September!!

 

Any idea how I can put it in numerical order?

 

Thanks

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Salvador
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Hi,

 

Create a column that is xxx = month(query1[date raised]))

Idk if you already have it already, if you have it, no need to create it :D, and then, you just need to sort the MonthName by the column that gives the month number 😛1.png

 

 

View solution in original post

7 REPLIES 7
Anonymous
Not applicable

I too faced similar challenge of sorting month in Direct query mode of date hierarchy.

 

So after creating column with Switch function as month function only gives you number of the month create one more column for month number MonthNum.
Sort column according to month number and then add this month to hierarchy and to Visualisation, then table gives you in sorting order.

 

Note: Remember to sort column MonthNum and then add it hierarchy.

edejes2
Advocate IV
Advocate IV

I got your solutions here, hope you like it  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_gnuFS8qoY&t=31s

 

Regards'

Erich Dejesus

Salvador
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Hi,

 

Create a column that is xxx = month(query1[date raised]))

Idk if you already have it already, if you have it, no need to create it :D, and then, you just need to sort the MonthName by the column that gives the month number 😛1.png

 

 

That won't work as I do not have a table view; this is a Direct Query.

Maybe this will help - hopefully:

 

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/DirectQuery-Sort-Data-by-Week-Day/m-p/97676#M41146



Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution, this will help others!

Proud to be a Super User!
I accept Kudos 😉
Hamburg, Germany

FYI, The link from Tom Marten is the correct fix when dealing with a table that load via Direct Query. Which was the problem stated in the OP. The suggested solution is partially right, except that you won't see the table in the Model view. You have to select the column in the table to get the option to Sort by Column to appear.

All working now; the month no. column was what was missing 🙂

Helpful resources

Announcements
September Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - September 2025

Check out the September 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.

Top Solution Authors
Top Kudoed Authors