Sorting and color assignment in charts

Why sorting matters

Sorting is not just a visual preference. It directly affects:

• The order in which data appears in charts

• How users interpret importance (e.g. highest value first)

• The color assignment of data points

Because charts read directly from Google Sheets, the structure and sorting in your sheet define the final result.

Sorting logic (applies to all chart types)

All charts now follow the sorting defined in the connected Google Sheet. This ensures consistency and prevents random reordering on reload.

Key principle

• The chart displays rows exactly in the order they appear in the sheet

• If the sheet is not sorted, the chart will not be sorted

How to sort data in Google Sheets

Google Sheets allows you to define both simple and advanced sorting.

Basic sorting (single column)

1. Select your full data range (including labels)

2. Go to Data → Sort range → Advanced range sorting options

3. Check “Data has header row” (if applicable)

4. Choose the column to sort by (e.g. price, number of properties)

5. Select:

   • A → Z (ascending), or

   • Z → A (descending)

Example (real estate):

Sort by “Average property price” (descending) to show the most expensive markets first.

Advanced sorting (multiple columns)

You can define primary and secondary sorting to control more complex datasets.

1. Select your full data range

2. Go to Data → Sort range → Advanced range sorting options

3. Add sorting rules:

   • Primary sort (first level)
     Example: Sort by City (A → Z)

   • Secondary sort (second level)
     Example: Then sort by Average Price (Z → A)

How it works

• The sheet first groups data by the primary column

• Within each group, it applies the secondary sorting

Example (real estate):

Sorting:

1. By City (A → Z)

2. By Price (Z → A)

Result:

• Cities remain grouped

• Within each city, highest price appears first

Color assignment in charts

Color is not random. It follows a fixed logic tied to sorting and metric selection.

General color rules

• The first (top) data point in the sheet → Red

• Subsequent values follow a gradient:

  • Darker tones = higher values

  • Lighter grey/beige = lower values

This means:

• Sorting directly controls which data point appears in red

• Incorrect sorting leads to misleading color emphasis

Example

If your sheet is sorted by price (descending):

Result in chart:

• House → Red

• Apartment → Dark grey

• Plot → Lighter grey

The order of the cities is determined by the primary sorting. The order and color assignment of the breakdown dimension are determined by the secondary sorting based on average purchase price per m².

Multiple metrics (e.g. line charts)

When using more than one metric, color assignment works differently.

Key rule

• Colors depend on the order in which metrics are selected in the chart settings, not the sheet

Example

Metrics selected in this order:

1. Number of listings

2. Number of inquiries

Result:

• Number of listings → Red

• Number of inquiries → Grey

If you reverse the selection order:

• Number of inquiries→ Red

• Number of listings → Grey

Recommendation

Always:

• Select metrics in a meaningful order

• Ensure the primary metric (most important) is added first

Special case: pie charts

Pie charts follow a different logic and are not affected by sheet sorting.

Behavior

• Slice size is based on value (largest to smallest)

• Colors are assigned automatically:

  • Largest slice → Red

  • Smallest slice → Light beige

This behavior is intentional and correct and cannot not be changed.

Best practices

Do

1. Always sort your Google Sheet before connecting it to a chart

2. Use descending order for value-based comparisons (e.g. prices, volume)

3. Apply multi-level sorting for structured datasets (e.g. city + property type)

4. Add metrics in a deliberate order when working with multiple metrics

5. Preview charts after changes to confirm sorting and colors

Don’t

• Do not rely on the chart to sort data automatically

• Do not leave sheets unsorted (leads to misleading visuals)

• Do not assume color reflects value unless sorting is correct

• Do not ignore metric selection order in multi-metric charts

• Do not try to control pie chart order via the sheet

Summary

• Sorting is controlled entirely in Google Sheets

• Chart order = sheet order

• Colors depend on sorting and metric selection

• Pie charts are the only exception and behave independently

By structuring and sorting your data correctly, you ensure that charts are accurate, consistent, and easy to interpret.