Forum Discussion
Sorting a stacked bar chart
I have searched the forums here already for a solution for my question, but the way my data is set up doesn't seem to work for how my data is set up!
My data is looking at a series of projects, and tracking how many days was spent in each stage. Here's an example of how it is set up:
| Project number | Project Manager | Days spent planning | Days spent producing | Days awaiting approval |
| 1 | Bob | 2 | 16 | 4 |
| 2 | Bob | 4 | 24 | 8 |
| 3 | Jane | 12 | 12 | 3 |
| 4 | Mary | 2 | 30 | 10 |
| 5 | Jane | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| 6 | Mary | 1 | 4 | 2 |
My stacked bar chart bars are the average time spent in each of the three stages, per project manager
My issue is that I want to be able to sort the bars by the stages in order (planning, then producing, then awaiting approval), but my only clear options are to sort by total days spent, or to sort the stages in alphabetical order. Is there a way I can sort the columns in my data in a custom way to change the order of the bars (I'd like to see planning at the bottom, producing in the middle, and awaiting delivery at the top)
Hi Anonymous ,
If you are using the columns from your table like my image below you can simply rearrange them in the Visualisation pane to change the order they appear in the graph.
If not can you please provide more information on how your visual is built
If this answer solves your problem please mark it as a solution!
Hi, I think that chagge order of field in Y axis
4 Replies
Thanks - this has worked! An interesting quirk though. I tried to do this method on my esxisting visual, but as I had already chosen a "sort axis" option, I couldn't unselect it and use the stacking of the fields to change the order - It had to remain checked as something.
I created a new column chart visual and checked, there is no default sort selected, so I am able to adjust the order with the fields directly. Interesting quirk, or am I missing something?
Hi Anonymous , This is sorting the order in which columns appear left-to-right on the x-axis. Whereas the solutions provided are dealing with the order of items from top-to-bottom on the y-axis. Having something ticked or not ticked in the Sort Axis will not affect your ability to change the order of items within each column.
Hi Anonymous ,
If you are using the columns from your table like my image below you can simply rearrange them in the Visualisation pane to change the order they appear in the graph.
If not can you please provide more information on how your visual is built
If this answer solves your problem please mark it as a solution!
Hi, I think that chagge order of field in Y axis