# Document Explorer field sorting
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210
**Category:** Kibana
**Created:** [May 9, 2022, 6:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210 "2022-05-09T06:01:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anfo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Anfo)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2022, 6:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210/1 "2022-05-09T06:01:34Z")
Hello
On a steep learning curve with Elasticsearch and was wondering something about Document Explorer, please. I am noting that only some columns can be sorted A-Z, presumably because they only contain alpha strings not like in attached image.
However, if I want to sort a column that is multi-data, is there another way? I'd really like to work through redundancies by having all values sorted.
Richard
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### Author:  [@matw](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/matw)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210/2 "2022-05-09T13:04:45Z")
Hi and welcome to our community
I'm not sure what you mean by 'only contain alpha strings', could you elaborate. Generally it depends on the mapping of a field, if a field is sortable, and you can also add multi fields to the table
However, it would be helpful if one does not need to pick the right field to sort by when having multifields, there's a related issue for this, have a look:
>
>
> \*\*Describe the feature:\*\*
>
> Right now if you have a multivalue field text/keywo…rd, you can only select the text version of the field to toggle as a column and then the sorting option is disabled in the Document Explorer, and the keyword version is not available from the toggle column fields list.
>
> Associate Name is a text/keyword multivalue field under the standard convention, so Associate Name, and Associate Name.keyword
>
> Only text version is available to toggle
>
> !\[image\](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/8575569/165572353-d0445e06-551a-4086-844e-55356029dcd0.png)
>
> Column sorting is disabled
>
> !\[image\](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/8575569/165573446-4ecafd4b-b5ad-4b50-9858-0a9985faf0e1.png)
>
> \*\*Describe a specific use case for the feature:\*\*
>
> When there is a keyword field version of the selected text field, then enable the sorting option based on the keyword field.
Best,
Matthias
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### Author:  [@Anfo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Anfo)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210/3 "2022-05-09T14:40:32Z")
Hi Matthias
Thank you for replying. In the screenshot, A-Z sorting is unavailable, and I was wondering if it had anything to do with alpha, numeric or NULL values in the field. For example in user.name, "secret" and 123456 can't be sorted, therefore, greyed out?
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### Author:  [@Anfo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Anfo)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2022, 3:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210/4 "2022-05-10T03:01:31Z")
Oh I see. If multifield (k), then not sortable. Just out of ignorant curiosity, why?
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### Author:  [@matw](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/matw)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2022, 5:43am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210/5 "2022-05-10T05:43:53Z")
No, it's about mappings. You can use a [keyword](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/keyword.html) field to sort by. But this isn't possible with a [text](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/text.html) field.
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### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2022, 5:44am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/document-explorer-field-sorting/304210/6 "2022-06-07T05:44:40Z")
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