Straight table sorting order differs between Excel and Qlik Sense despite identical multi-level sort configuration

[Pri_07_03]

Straight table sorting order differs between Excel and Qlik Sense despite identical multi-level sort configuration

I have implemented sorting in a Qlik Sense straight table with the following order:

Year (descending) → Month (descending) → Product Category (descending) → Solution Name (descending) → Product Name (ascending) → Call Number (descending)

The same sorting logic has been applied in Excel using multi-level sort for validation. However, the row order in Excel does not match the order displayed in Qlik Sense.

In Qlik Sense, the sorting is applied at the dimension level in the straight table properties, while Excel I have applied this - 

• Select your entire dataset
• Go to Data → Sort
• Click Add Level

Could someone clarify:
Why does Qlik Sense sorting order sometimes not match Excel sorted output even when the same hierarchy is used?

[robert_mika]

Ca you post an example with screenshot from bothsources?

[avinashelite · Accepted solution]

If you have multiple dimension in the chart , Qlik always try to sort based on the first dimension or the order in the sort section . Sometime if your dimensions are not fully numeric/date format , it will cause issue.

Share the sample data illustrating the issue, we will try to help 

[Pri_07_03]

Hi,

I recreated the issue using a simple dummy dataset.

Sorting applied:

Year (descending) → Month (descending) → Department (descending) → Product Name (ascending)

Excel Output:

Year | Month | Department                  | Product Name     | Category

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access A    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access B    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi A      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi B      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-A CATV Systems         | Prod-CATV A      | FSP

Qlik Output:

Year | Month | Department                  | Product Name     | Category

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi A      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi B      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access A    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access B    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-A CATV Systems         | Prod-CATV A      | FSP

In Excel, the data starts with Dept-C Security Systems,

whereas in Qlik, the data starts with Dept-B Wireless Network,

even though the same sorting logic is applied.

 
About Chart Dimension :

The dimension is conditional and changes visibility depending on selection state.

It has separate logic for:

- when a bar is clicked

- when list/table filters are applied

- when no selection / single FY / multiple FY are selected

Could you please help explain why this difference occurs and how we can achieve the same order as Excel in Qlik?

[Pri_07_03]

Hi,

I recreated the issue using a simple dummy dataset.

Sorting applied:

Year (descending) → Month (descending) → Department (descending) → Product Name (ascending)

Excel Output:

Year | Month | Department                  | Product Name     | Category

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access A    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access B    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi A      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi B      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-A CATV Systems         | Prod-CATV A      | FSP

Qlik Output:

Year | Month | Department                  | Product Name     | Category

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi A      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-B Wireless Network     | Prod-Wifi B      | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access A    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-C Security Systems     | Prod-Access B    | FSP

2025 | 12    | Dept-A CATV Systems         | Prod-CATV A      | FSP

In Excel, the data starts with Dept-C Security Systems,

whereas in Qlik, the data starts with Dept-B Wireless Network,

even though the same sorting logic is applied.

 
About Chart Dimension :

The dimension is conditional and changes visibility depending on selection state.

It has separate logic for:

- when a bar is clicked

- when list/table filters are applied

- when no selection / single FY / multiple FY are selected

Could you please help explain why this difference occurs and how we can achieve the same order as Excel in Qlik?

[N30fyte]

Just to add another very simple example of how Qlik Sense gets this wrong:

alphabetic:
Load * Inline
[code,somenumber
Q2518,12
Q2531,14
Q2540,17
Q251718,11
Q251718,13
Q253334,10]
;

Create a straight table from this data using both values as dimensions. Sort alphabetically on code:

The correct alphabetical sort order is:

Q251718

Q251718

Q2518

Q2531

Q253334

Q2540

Excel gets this right. Q251718 is alphabetically before Q2518.

[Lech_Miszkiewicz · Accepted solution]

you are right - Qlik is not using true ASCI sorting in this instance.

If your potential string is short then you could build a sorting expression by using true asci codes for individual characters and then sort those by 

=Ord(code)
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,2,1))
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,3,1))
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,4,1))
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,5,1))
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,6,1))
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,7,1))
&'|'&Ord(Mid(code,8,1))

&'|'& etc.....

like so:

[JuliaSimpson]

---

@Pri_07_03 wrote:

Straight table sorting order differs between Excel and Qlik Sense despite identical multi-level sort configuration

I have implemented sorting in a Qlik Sense straight table with the following order:

Year (descending) → Month (descending) → Product Category (descending) → Solution Name (descending) → Product Name (ascending) → Call Number (descending)

The same sorting logic has been applied in Excel using multi-level sort for validation. However, the row order in Excel does not match the order displayed in Qlik Sense. mariniostvv

In Qlik Sense, the sorting is applied at the dimension level in the straight table properties, while Excel I have applied this - 

• Select your entire dataset
• Go to Data → Sort
• Click Add Level

Could someone clarify:
Why does Qlik Sense sorting order sometimes not match Excel sorted output even when the same hierarchy is used?

---

This difference is expected because Qlik does not sort data in the same way as Excel. In Qlik, sorting is driven by the associative model, expressions, and data types rather than simple row-based ordering.

If you want a behavior closer to Excel, you may need to adjust the sorting settings in the straight table (dimension or measure sorting) and explicitly define numeric or text sorting where needed.

[JuliaSimpson]

---

@Pri_07_03 wrote:

Straight table sorting order differs between Excel and Qlik Sense despite identical multi-level sort configuration

I have implemented sorting in a Qlik Sense straight table with the following order:

Year (descending) → Month (descending) → Product Category (descending) → Solution Name (descending) → Product Name (ascending) → Call Number (descending)

The same sorting logic has been applied in Excel using multi-level sort for validation. However, the row order in Excel does not match the order displayed in Qlik Sense. mariniostvv

In Qlik Sense, the sorting is applied at the dimension level in the straight table properties, while Excel I have applied this - 

• Select your entire dataset
• Go to Data → Sort
• Click Add Level

Could someone clarify:
Why does Qlik Sense sorting order sometimes not match Excel sorted output even when the same hierarchy is used?

---

This difference is expected because Qlik does not sort data in the same way as Excel. In Qlik, sorting is driven by the associative model, expressions, and data types rather than simple row-based ordering.

If you want a behavior closer to Excel, you may need to adjust the sorting settings in the straight table (dimension or measure sorting) and explicitly define numeric or text sorting where needed.

[Or]

This isn't 'wrong', it's just not alphanumeric sorting. Qlik uses mixed-sorting for strings that contain numbers, by design.

@Lech_Miszkiewicz  has provided the workaround for this. Another alternative is to pre-sort the data during load (Order By) and then use the load order to sort the table. 

[abc_09 · Accepted solution]

In Qlik Sense, this sorting is applied at the visualization layer based on the data model and dimension evaluation, not as a physical row order like Excel. Therefore, Excel row order may not always visually match Qlik because Excel uses static row sorting while Qlik uses dynamic, expression-based sorting in charts.

However, the Qlik straight table is correctly configured according to the business requirement, and the displayed order reflects the defined sorting logic within Qlik’s associative model.