The Sorting analysis tool orders dimensions of the query result set in ascending or descending alphanumeric order. Sorting definitions, which are created in the Sorting dialog box and displayed in the Information panel, are dynamic—applied as documents are drilled, pivoted, and changed.
You can use client-side and server-based sorting definitions:
Client-side sorting—provided by Sorting and executed on local computers
Server-based sorting—provided by Retrieve Only Top/Bottom and executed on Analytic Server; performed prior to returning the OLAP query result set to the client, thus minimizing the result set and network traffic
Multiple sorting definitions are applied in the order presented by Analysis Tools Manager. Sorting definitions applied to axes with equal values may be rearranged by sorting definitions applied to axes with diverse values. The document display is the result of the cumulative application of all active sorting, client-side and server-side, but it may seem that only the last sorting definition was applied.