Performing complex sorts

Sorting is one of those often-requested operations. To sort a hierarchy by a measure is not a problem. Neither is to sort a hierarchy using its member properties. The MDX language has a designated function for that operation and a straightforward one too. Yes, we're talking about the Order() function.

Difficulties appear when we need to sort two or more hierarchies, one inside the other, or when we need to use two or more criteria. Not to mention the confusion when one of the members on the columns is supposed to be the criteria for sorting a related hierarchy on the rows. These are complex sort operations, operations we will cover in this recipe.

Let us build a case and see how it should be solved.

Getting ready

Start SSMS and connect to your SSAS 2016 instance. Click on the New Query button and check that the target database is Adventure Works DW 2016.

In this example, we are going to use the Product dimension, the Sales Territory dimension, and the Date dimension....