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Sort reporting results (Ordering)

Updated

Ordering determines how report results are sorted. Sorting helps organize report data so records appear in a logical and consistent sequence.

Sorting is based on the fields available in the report output. When grouping is used, sorting determines the order of records within each section.

When to use sorting

  • when report results should appear in chronological order
  • when records need to be listed alphabetically
  • when reviewing financial or operational activity in sequence
  • when grouping records and controlling their order within each section

Examples of common sorting

  • sort events by start date
  • sort delegates alphabetically by name
  • sort invoices by invoice date
  • sort accounts by organization name

Before sorting results

  • Confirm the report uses the correct entity.
  • Ensure the field you are sorting by exists in the report.
  • Decide what order makes the results easiest to interpret.

Tip: Sorting organizes the output but does not change which records are returned.

Sort results in a report

  1. Open the report
    Navigate to Reports and open the report you want to edit.
  2. Locate the Ordering configuration
    Find the section where sorting or ordering rules are defined.
  3. Select the field used for sorting
    Choose the field that should determine the order of the results.
  4. Select the sort direction
    Choose whether the results should appear in ascending or descending order.
    • Ascending displays values from lowest to highest or A–Z.
    • Descending displays values from highest to lowest or Z–A.
  5. Apply additional sorting (optional)
    Add secondary sort fields to break ties or refine ordering.
  6. Run the report
    Review the sorted results.
  7. Validate the order
    Check:
    • whether the order matches your reporting intent
    • whether values appear in a consistent sequence
    • whether grouped sections display correctly
  8. Save the report
    Save once the ordering is correct.

How ordering behaves

Ordering uses the fields available in your report output and applies priority from top to bottom.

For example:

  • sort first by Event Start Date
  • then by Event Title

This means the report first groups records by date order, then sorts records with the same date by title.

Tips for effective sorting

  • sort by the field most relevant to the analysis
  • combine sorting with grouping to improve readability
  • use multiple sort levels to refine complex reports
  • avoid sorting by fields with inconsistent or incomplete values

Understanding sorting behavior

Sorting changes the order of records, not the dataset itself.

  • It does not filter or remove records.
  • It does not change grouping structure.
  • It applies after filters and grouping are already defined.

If results look incorrect, review filters and entity selection before adjusting sorting.

Common issues

Records appear in unexpected order

Verify that the correct field is used and that the sort direction is appropriate.

Sorting conflicts with grouping

When results are grouped, sorting applies within each group. Ensure the selected field makes sense within that structure.

Values are not sorting correctly

Check whether the field is treated as text, number, or date, as this affects how values are ordered.

Next steps

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