# Is it possible to make a template that aggregates by one field and sorts by another?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526>\
**Category:** Kibana\
**Created:** [January 13, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526 "2026-01-13T22:17:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phil\_McLachlan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/phil_mclachlan/32/124424_2.png) [@Phil\_McLachlan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Phil_McLachlan)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526/1 "2026-01-13T22:17:26Z")

</div>

Hi,

We have a elasticsearch index with a lot of data in it. For this question, I am interested in two fields primarily: brand.brands\_pk and brand.name\_loc.content\_default. I want to create a template to return a unique list of integer brand.brand\_pks, and sort it by the text field brand.name\_loc.content\_default. There is a search text term, which brand.name\_loc.content\_default should be searchable on. Is this possible? So far, I have this queries, but it is giving me the following error message.

`POST _scripts/BRANDS_FILTER`  
`{`  
` "script": {`  
` "lang": "mustache",`  
` "source": "{\"query\":{\"bool\":{\"must\": [{\"match\":{\"region_code.keyword\":\"{{regionCode}}\"}},{\"match\":{\"catalog_type.keyword\":\"{{catalogType}}\"}},{\"multi_match\":{\"query\":\"{{keyword}}\",\"fuzziness\":\"AUTO:3,8\",\"prefix_length\":2,\"type\":\"best_fields\",\"operator\":\"and\",\"fields\": [\"brand.name_loc.content_default^3.1\"]}}]}},\"aggs\": {\"unique_brand_ids\": {\"terms\": {\"field\": \"brand.brand_pk\",\"size\": {{size}},\"order\": {\"brand_name_sort\": \"asc\"}}},\"brand_name_sort\": {\"terms\": {\"field\": \"brand.name_loc.content_default.keyword\",\"order\": {\"_key\": \"asc\"}}}},\"from\": {{from}},\"size\": 0}",`  
` "_source": ["brand.brand_pk", "brand.name_loc.content_default.keyword"],`  
` "size": 1`  
` }`  
`}`

`GET axp_marketplace_search_catalog_1_1767637823_unique/_search/template`  
`{`  
` "id": "BRANDS_FILTER",`  
` "params": {`  
` "keyword": "the",`  
` "regionCode": "US",`  
` "catalogType": "CATALOG",`  
` "fuzziness": true,`  
` "from": 0,`  
` "size": 100,`  
` "sort": "\"brand.name_loc.content_default.keyword\""`  
` }`  
`}`

Error message is as follows:  
"Invalid aggregation order path [brand\_name\_sort]. The provided aggregation [brand\_name\_sort] either does not exist, or is a pipeline aggregation and cannot be used to sort the buckets."

Any help is appreciated.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tortoise](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/tortoise/32/147587_2.png) [@Tortoise](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Tortoise)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 7:23am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526/2 "2026-01-14T07:23:10Z")

</div>

Hello @Phil_McLachlan

Please share one sample document and the index mapping for the relevant fields (`brand.brand_pk` and `brand.name_loc.content_default`) to review this issue.

Thanks!!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phil\_McLachlan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/phil_mclachlan/32/124424_2.png) [@Phil\_McLachlan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Phil_McLachlan)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526/3 "2026-01-14T14:33:05Z")

</div>

Here is a document example:  
`"_source": {`  
` "navigation_category": {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "fi-FI": "Keittiö ja ruokailu",`  
` "nb-NO": "Kjøkken og spisestue",`  
` "en-US": "Kitchen & Dining",`  
` "content_default": "Kitchen & Dining",`  
` "ms-MY": "Dapur & Ruang Makan",`  
` "zh-CN": "厨房和餐厅",`  
` "nl-NL": "Keuken en eetgerei",`  
` "en-AU": "Kitchen and dining",`  
` "he-IL": "מטבח ואוכל",`  
` "cs-CZ": "Kuchyň a stolování",`  
` "ja-JP": "キッチン、ダイニング",`  
` "de-DE": "Küche und Esszimmer",`  
` "hu-HU": "Konyha és étkező",`  
` "zh-TW": "廚具和餐具",`  
` "ko-KR": "주방 및 다이닝",`  
` "pt-BR": "Mesa",`  
` "es-ES": "Cocina y comedor",`  
` "es-MX": "Cocina y comedor",`  
` "fr-CA": "Cuisine et salle à manger",`  
` "it-IT": "Cucina e sala da pranzo",`  
` "pl-PL": "Kuchnia i jadalnia",`  
` "ru-RU": "Кухня и столовая",`  
` "pt-PT": "Cozinha e mesa",`  
` "ro-RO": "Bucătărie și cameră de zi",`  
` "sv-SE": "Kök och matsal",`  
` "id-ID": "Perlengkapan Dapur & Makan",`  
` "da-DK": "Køkken og spisning",`  
` "tr-TR": "Mutfak",`  
` "fr-FR": "Cuisine et salle à manger",`  
` "vi-VN": "Nhà bếp và bộ đồ ăn",`  
` "en-GB": "Kitchen & dining",`  
` "th-TH": "เครื่องครัวและอุปกรณ์รับประทานอาหาร"`  
` },`  
` "navigation_category_pk": 55,`  
` "navigation_category_list": [`  
` 378,`  
` 393,`  
` 55`  
` ]`  
` },`  
` "images": {`  
` "image": "",`  
` "thumbnail": ""`  
` },`  
` "redemption_count": 55,`  
` "catalog_category": {`  
` "catalog_category_pk": 55,`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "pt-PT": "Cozinha e sala de jantar",`  
` "en-US": "Kitchen & Dining",`  
` "content_default": "Kitchen & Dining",`  
` "es-ES": "Cocina",`  
` "fr-FR": "Cuisine et séjour",`  
` "en-GB": "Kitchen & Dining"`  
` }`  
` },`  
` "is_eligible_for_top_up": true,`  
` "catalog_date_created": "2026-01-05T18:24:55Z",`  
` "last_image_upload_date_utc": "2020-02-27T16:41:23Z",`  
` "type": "NORMAL",`  
` "tags": [`  
` {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "en-US": "Dining",`  
` "content_default": "Dining",`  
` "en-GB": "Dining",`  
` "es-MX": "Comida",`  
` "fr-CA": "À manger"`  
` },`  
` "tag_pk": 45`  
` },`  
` {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "de-DE": "merchandise",`  
` "en-US": "merchandise",`  
` "content_default": "merchandise",`  
` "zh-TW": "merchandise",`  
` "ko-KR": "merchandise",`  
` "pt-BR": "merchandise",`  
` "zh-CN": "merchandise",`  
` "es-MX": "merchandise",`  
` "fr-CA": "merchandise",`  
` "it-IT": "merchandise",`  
` "ru-RU": "merchandise",`  
` "nl-NL": "merchandise",`  
` "en-GB": "merchandise",`  
` "ja-JP": "merchandise"`  
` },`  
` "tag_pk": 176`  
` },`  
` {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "en-US": "Over200",`  
` "content_default": "Over200"`  
` },`  
` "tag_pk": 2248`  
` },`  
` {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "en-US": "Home",`  
` "content_default": "Home",`  
` "en-GB": "Home",`  
` "es-MX": "casa",`  
` "fr-CA": "maison"`  
` },`  
` "tag_pk": 21`  
` },`  
` {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "en-US": "Kitchen",`  
` "content_default": "Kitchen",`  
` "en-GB": "Kitchen",`  
` "es-MX": "cocina",`  
` "fr-CA": "cuisine"`  
` },`  
` "tag_pk": 23`  
` }`  
` ],`  
` "program_fk": 1,`  
` "@timestamp": "2026-01-14T05:45:11.459675720Z",`  
` "is_marketplace_plus": false,`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "en-US": "Cashmere Coupe 16-Piece Dinnerware Set",`  
` "content_default": "Cashmere Coupe 16-Piece Dinnerware Set",`  
` "en-AU": "Cashmere Coupe 16-Piece Dinnerware Set",`  
` "fr-FR": "Ensemble de vaisselle 16 pièces Cashmere Coupe",`  
` "en-GB": "Cashmere Coupe 16-Piece Dinnerware Set",`  
` "fr-CA": "Ensemble de vaisselle 16 pièces Cashmere Coupe"`  
` },`  
` "price": {`  
` "price_points": 28999,`  
` "variable_min_points": 28999,`  
` "variable_max_points": 28999,`  
` "point_range_group": [`  
` {`  
` "name": "20000-35000",`  
` "range": {`  
` "min": 20000,`  
` "max": 35000`  
` }`  
` }`  
` ],`  
` "promotion": {`  
` "sale_percentage": 0,`  
` "is_on_sale": false,`  
` "old_price": 0`  
` }`  
` },`  
` "catalog_type": "CATALOG",`  
` "product_id": "MAX-CA-MAWBC188216",`  
` "product_pk": 583666,`  
` "description_loc": {`  
` "en-US": "<p>THIS IS A MARKETPLACE SEARCH TEST!!!!</p>",`  
` "content_default": "<p>THIS IS A MARKETPLACE SEARCH TEST!!!!</p>",`  
` "en-AU": "<div><div>Add a little sophistication to your dinner table, with the timeless style of the Cashmere Coupe Dinner Set 16 Piece in white, from Maxwell & Williams. Made from fine bone china, so every dining occasion will be as luxurious as the next.</div></div><div><div>16-piece set.</div><div>Material: Fine Bone China.</div><div>Microwave, Oven, Dishwasher & Freezer Safe.</div></div>",`  
` "fr-FR": "<div>Ajoutez un peu de sophistication à votre table avec le style intemporel de l'ensemble de vaisselle en cachemire Coupé 16 pièces en blanc, de Maxwell & Williams. Fabriqué en porcelaine d'os fin, ainsi chaque occasion de dîner sera aussi luxueuse que la suivante.<br></div><div><div>Ensemble de 16 pièces.</div><div>Matériau : porcelaine tendre.</div><div>Va au micro-ondes, au four, au lave-vaisselle et au congélateur.</div></div>",`  
` "en-GB": "<div><div>Add a little sophistication to your dinner table, with the timeless style of the Cashmere Coupe Dinner Set 16 Piece in white, from Maxwell & Williams. Made from fine bone china, so every dining occasion will be as luxurious as the next.</div></div><div><div>16-piece set.</div><div>Material: Fine Bone China.</div><div>Microwave, Oven, Dishwasher & Freezer Safe.</div></div>",`  
` "fr-CA": "<div>Ajoutez un peu de sophistication à votre table avec le style intemporel de l'ensemble de vaisselle en cachemire Coupé 16 pièces en blanc, de Maxwell & Williams. Fabriqué en porcelaine d'os fin, ainsi chaque occasion de dîner sera aussi luxueuse que la suivante.<br></div><div><div>Ensemble de 16 pièces.</div><div>Matériau : porcelaine tendre.</div><div>Va au micro-ondes, au four, au lave-vaisselle et au congélateur.</div></div>"`  
` },`  
` "product_date_created": "2020-02-27T16:41:22Z",`  
` "brand": {`  
` "name_loc": {`  
` "content_default": "Maxwell & Williams",`  
` "legacy_brand_tag_name": "Maxwell___Williams"`  
` },`  
` "brand_pk": 1402`  
` },`  
` "region_code": "CA"`  
` }`  
` },`

As for the index definition, that’s in golang:

```auto
    properties := KeyValue{
        "brand": KeyValue{
           "properties": KeyValue{
             "brand_pk": KeyValue{
               "type": "long",
             },
           "name_loc": KeyValue{
             "properties": getLocaleProperties(locales, KEYWORD_ANALYZER, true),
           },
         },
        },
...

const KEYWORD_ANALYZER = "custom_keyword"

func getLocaleProperties(locales []string, analyzerName string, hasDefault bool) KeyValue {
	properties := make(KeyValue)
	for _, locale := range locales {
		key := fmt.Sprintf("content_%s", strings.ToLower(locale))
		properties[key] = KeyValue{
			"type": "text",
			"analyzer": analyzerName,
		}
	}
	if hasDefault {
		properties["content_default"] = KeyValue{
			"type": "text",
			"analyzer": analyzerName,
		}
	}

	return properties
}

```

Please let me know, if anything else is needed.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tortoise](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/tortoise/32/147587_2.png) [@Tortoise](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Tortoise)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 11:06am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526/4 "2026-01-17T11:06:17Z")

</div>

Hello @Phil_McLachlan

Tried with below data & i also receive the same error message as you have shared :

```auto
PUT repro_brand_error_index
{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "region_code": {
        "type": "keyword"
      },
      "catalog_type": {
        "type": "keyword"
      },
      "brand": {
        "properties": {
          "brand_pk": {
            "type": "long"
          },
          "name_loc": {
            "properties": {
              "content_default": {
                "type": "text",
                "fields": {
                  "keyword": {
                    "type": "keyword"
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

POST repro_brand_error_index/_doc
{
  "region_code": "US",
  "catalog_type": "CATALOG",
  "brand": {
    "brand_pk": 1402,
    "name_loc": {
      "content_default": "Maxwell & Williams"
    }
  }
}

POST _scripts/BRANDS_FILTER_REPRO
{
  "script": {
    "lang": "mustache",
    "source": "{\"query\":{\"bool\":{\"must\": [{\"match\":{\"region_code.keyword\":\"{{regionCode}}\"}},{\"match\":{\"catalog_type.keyword\":\"{{catalogType}}\"}},{\"multi_match\":{\"query\":\"{{keyword}}\",\"fuzziness\":\"AUTO:3,8\",\"prefix_length\":2,\"type\":\"best_fields\",\"operator\":\"and\",\"fields\": [\"brand.name_loc.content_default^3.1\"]}}]}},\"aggs\": {\"unique_brand_ids\": {\"terms\": {\"field\": \"brand.brand_pk\",\"size\": {{size}},\"order\": {\"brand_name_sort\": \"asc\"}}},\"brand_name_sort\": {\"terms\": {\"field\": \"brand.name_loc.content_default.keyword\",\"order\": {\"_key\": \"asc\"}}}},\"from\": {{from}},\"size\": 0}"
  }
}

GET repro_brand_error_index/_search/template
{
  "id": "BRANDS_FILTER_REPRO",
  "params": {
    "keyword": "maxwell",
    "regionCode": "US",
    "catalogType": "CATALOG",
    "fuzziness": true,
    "from": 0,
    "size": 100,
    "sort": "\"brand.name_loc.content_default.keyword\""
  }
}

Error:

"root_cause": [
      {
        "type": "invalid_path",
        "reason": "Invalid aggregation order path [brand_name_sort]. The provided aggregation [brand_name_sort] either does not exist, or is a pipeline aggregation and cannot be used to sort the buckets."
      }
    ]
	
	

```

I was not able to find the solution but have below documentation if it can help to find the solution :

> **[Bucket sort aggregation | Elasticsearch Guide \[8.19\] | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/8.19/search-aggregations-pipeline-bucket-sort-aggregation.html)**

As per your script, the `unique_brand_ids` terms aggregation attempts to order its buckets using `brand_name_sort`. However, `brand_name_sort` is defined as a sibling **bucket (`terms`) aggregation**, and Elasticsearch only allows ordering a `terms` aggregation by `_key`, `_count`, or by a **metric sub-aggregation**. As a result, Elasticsearch rejects `brand_name_sort` as an invalid order path.

Thanks!!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phil\_McLachlan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/phil_mclachlan/32/124424_2.png) [@Phil\_McLachlan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Phil_McLachlan)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-make-a-template-that-aggregates-by-one-field-and-sorts-by-another/384526/5 "2026-01-20T20:12:46Z")

</div>

Thanks for your investigation. I guess you cannot have both a unique set of ids and sort it by another text field. I would have thought it was possible. One solution is to make another brands index per program. Probably a better solution is to sort in the microservice after calling the search template. There aren’t too many brands, so it should be ok performance wise.