Data in charts is sorted alphabetically by default. You can use the sort buttons on the Standard toolbar to perform simple sorts on selected items and reverse the sort order. In charts, however, you generally want to override the default alphabetical setting and sort dimensional data with reference to other data.
For example, if a chart lists each type of widget your company sells and the total amount sold of each, initially the widget types are ordered alphabetically. But this data becomes more meaningful when you instead sort the widget types with reference to the total produced by each. This approach enables you to rank each widget from the highest to lowest total sales.
You can use the Sort line in the Chart section to impose a sort condition for each dimensional data item in your chart. The Sort line includes three drop-down menus used to define the sort conditions. The contents of the menus vary depending on the data items in your chart.
Note: | Sorting cannot be used for scatter or bubble chart items. |
To specify a sort using the Sort line:
If the Sort line is not already displayed, click Sort on the Section title bar.
Select a value from the By drop-down list box as a sort reference, or select Label to sort the item alphabetically.
If desired, select an aggregate function from the Using drop-down list box when sorting by values.
The Using drop-down menu is not available when you sort by labels.
If desired, click the ascending or descending Sort button on the Sort line.
The Sort line stores a sort condition for each dimensional item included in the chart.