Sort Column Chart based on column which is not included into visual

[cuongle]

Assume I have column chart with:

1. Name: on Axis field.

2. PaymentDayDiff on Value field.

But I want to sort the columns chart based on another column call `Spend` which is not available on Sort dropdown (because `spend` is not included into `Axis` or `Value`)

How can I do this?

[jdbuchanan71]

This topic came up first in my search so I though I would reply with an answer.  If you add a measure to the tooltip of a visual, it is not displayed but you can sort by it.  Thanks to GuyInACube for the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bp_e-ik7aA

[Anonymous]

yo this works

[Greg_Deckler]

In Desktop, you can go into your model, choose your column and set the "Sort By" column. 5th button from the left on the Modeling tab of the ribbon.

[cuongle]

Thanks for your answer, but I am afraid that it does not work, the reason might be I did filter and select top n (use RANKX) for this column chart?

[Greg_Deckler]

Hmm, are you getting any error or are you setting the Sort By column and the visual is not honoring it?

I have run into an issue using FIRSTDATE on a custom column and then trying to use it as a Sort By column and received an error that I was not allowed to do that. That's the only time I have had this not work.

[greggyb]

In general, it's suggested that the sort-by column have a 1:1 relationship with the sorted column, e.g. MonthNumber sorts MonthName, each with 12 distinct values.

Strictly, sort-by:sorted must be 1:1 or 1:N. In the 1:N case, the sorted column will have an order associated with sort-by, but will be sorted by its own value within the groups defined by sort-by.

E.g. Sorting MonthName by QuarterNumber will give you
February

January

March

April
June

May

August

July

September

December

November

October

This is the display in a table. All of Q1's months are grouped together, but since they are tied on their sort-by number, the tie is broken by sorting on MonthName's own value within that quarter.

N:1 sort-by:sorted will throw an error.