Forum Discussion
Sort multi columns in Matrix table
Hi All,
Does anyone know if it's possible to sort multi columns in Matrix table?
Regards
BK
11 Replies
If you have the latest version of PowerBI desktop you can do this in 4 following steps:
Step 1: Convert the matrix into a table
Step 2: Sort the table by "First" column (Click again if you want to change the sorting order in opposite direction)
Step 3: Now add additional sort in the table by using Shift + Lift Click on "Second" column (Shift + Lift Click again to change sort order to opposite direction)
Step 4: Convert the table back to matrix now, and your matrix retain these sort orders now
If this helps you then please give a thumbs up to the solution
Thanks for sharing. However, I failed a step 4. When i convert the flat table back to matrix, the matrix only keep sorting of 2nd column.
- I think that they just released that for Table visualizations so I would expect Matrix visualizations aren't far behind.
Greg_Deckler
So optimistic ...Greg_Deckler Yeah, it's still not possible in a Matrix, almost 5 (!) years later ... It never stops to amaze me how we just have to wait for such (seemingly) simple things, even in our modern age where IT tech is supposed to develop so quickly.
Another year later and this is still not available! This seems like it would be something easy and simple to add in considering the logic has been built for tables for years.
Anonymous , Refer the multi-sort in March release : https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-desktop-march-2020-feature-summary/
Hi, Anonymous
There is no direct way to sort multi columns in matrix. As a workaround, you may refer the following link.
Best Regards
Allan
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more
First of all, if the answer on your link is correct, then why not just copy and paste it here? Why make us have to click over to find the answer somewhere else?
Second, if the solution you linked to is the real answer (it isn't) than it's an absurd solution to what should be a super simple problem for Microsoft to solve. PowerBi is almost as ridiculous as these community forums.
1. I have created a display order column. I already had an order column for both columns each, so I only needed to concatenate them. (In principle, I had to convert text to values, revert orders, insert 0s)
2. Added the display order column to the table, removed text wrap, and reduced the width so it is not visible. Make sure you position the column correctly within the matrix (first column willl fragment it)
3. Sorted the matrix based on the hidden column
In case this help, here's a workaround in case sorting by the right-most column will also correctly sort the rest of the columns (for instance, sorting by Date will also sort Month, Quarted, Year):
Set Visual/layout and style presets/Layout to Compact.
Sort by the only column that's now available for sorting. Apparently, this will actually sort by the right-most column.
Switch Visual/layout and style presets/Layout back to your preferred layout.
