Value sorting in ad hoc report

Sorting determines the order in which elements appear in a report. Sorting organizes data by values, and it can preserve the hierarchy structure or display elements as a flat list. Because sorting changes the order of visible rows or columns, sorting directly affects how report data is displayed and analyzed.

When you interact with the data grid, only one sorting or ranking criterion can exist per axis.

When a new value sorting criterion is applied, any existing sorting or ranking criterion on the same axis is automatically removed.

Multiple sorting criteria can exist on the same axis when AI generates a report or when you opens a report from Application Studio. In such cases, the report result depends on the order of criteria in the report definition.

Value sorting applied to a column creates a sorting criterion on the row axis, using the selected column elements as its custom data area.

Value sorting applied to a row creates a sorting criterion on the column axis, using the selected row elements as its custom data area.

Value sorting applies to visible elements that are selected on the axis where the sorting criterion is defined. Dimensions that are not placed on the axis where the criterion is applied are resolved from the current report context. Changes to slicer configuration or slicer selections do not invalidate sorting criteria that are applied on axes. Changes to element selections on the same and opposite axis do not invalidate sorting that is applied to a value row or column.

Applying value sorting can either preserve the hierarchy structure or reorder elements independently of the hierarchy.

Invalid sorting criteria

Sorting criteria are bound to a specific data context on report axes. Changes to the report layout, for example moving or swapping dimensions between axes, can invalidate existing criteria. When a sorting criterion becomes invalid, it is automatically removed either after a report interaction change or upon confirming the Report Designer dialog.

Sorting modes

Without break hierarchy:

  • Ascending and descending preserve the existing hierarchy structure.
  • Sibling elements are sorted within each hierarchy level.
  • Parent-child relationships remain unchanged.
  • You can continue to expand and collapse hierarchy nodes.

With break hierarchy:

  • Break ascending and break descending ignore hierarchy-level modes.
  • The report displays sorted visible elements as a flat list.
  • Elements cannot be expanded to view descendants.

Sorting availability

Sorting is available as a contextual action. You can access sorting from the contextual menu with a right-click or from the contextual toolbar with a left-click

You can apply sorting from element headers on the row axis and the column axis.

For multiple dimensions on the column axis, sorting is available only for element headers in the innermost dimension that reference a single-value column.

Sorting is not available when multiple row or column element headers are selected.

Sorting options

The Sort menu contains these options:

  • Ascending (Without Break Hierarchy)
  • Descending (Without Break Hierarchy)
  • Break Ascending (With Break Hierarchy)
  • Break Descending (With Break Hierarchy)
  • No Sorting.

State indicator

The state indicator is applied in the Sort menu.

When no sorting criterion exists on an axis, No Sorting is selected by default.

When a sorting criterion exists on an axis:

  • If you select an element that uses the sorting criterion, the menu indicates the active sorting type. You can select a different sorting option.
  • If you select an element that is not part of the sorting context, No Sorting is selected. You can select a sorting option to replace the existing criterion.

Left-click interaction in the data grid

A left-click on an element header displays the contextual toolbar.

The Sort button appears as the leftmost button next to the existing contextual actions.

Click Sort to open the Sort menu.

Right-click interaction in the data grid

A right-click on an element header opens the contextual menu.

The Sorting option appears in a dedicated section above Ranking.

Hover over the Sorting option to open the Sort menu.

Sorting indicators in the Ad-hoc widget

When sorting is applied, dedicated indicators show the active sorting state.

Global toolbar tag:

  • Dedicated indicators show sorting that is applied to rows and columns.
  • When sorting is applied to both axes, the toolbar displays separate indicators for each axis.
  • A tooltip lists all sorting criteria for the selected axis.
  • Click Close to remove all sorting criteria from the report definition and remove the sorting indicators.

Per-element-header indicator:

  • Icon is placed on the right side of the column or row element header.
  • For multiple hierarchies on an axis, icon moves to the innermost dimension's header.
  • Hovering shows a tooltip with the criteria type caption.

Tooltip format:

Value sorting: [Direction] on [Element Name]

Examples:

  • Value sorting: Ascending (Without Break Hierarchy) on Revenue
  • Value sorting: Break Descending (With Break Hierarchy) on Q1 2026

If multiple criteria exist on an axis, each criterion appears on a separate line in the tooltip.

When No Sorting is applied, no sorting indicator is displayed.

Removing sorting criteria from the report definition

You can remove sorting criteria in the following ways:

  • Click Close on the global toolbar tag.
  • Select No Sorting from the contextual menu when one criterion exists on the axis.