Sorting First Performance Name by Date Instead of Alphabetically

Analytics v 15.x doesn't currently have a sort value for Production Season other than the name of the Production Season itself. However, you can create a value formula that will produce one based on the earliest performance date in each production season:

MIN( DDiff( [Days in Performance Date], NOW( [Days in Performance Date] ) ) )   --positive numbers on current/future productions, sort ascending

OR

-1 * MIN( DDiff( [Days in Performance Date], NOW( [Days in Performance Date] ) ) )   --positive numbers on past productions, sort descending

This takes the minimum difference in the count of days between the date of the performances in the production season and today. This will be a negative number for past performances and a positive number for future performances. In essence, this sorts based on the first performance date in each production season. To sort by the last performance date in each production season, the formula can be modified to use MAX instead of MIN:

MAX( DDiff( [Days in Performance Date], NOW( [Days in Performance Date] ) ) )

Using these values assumes that production season is the only dimensional field on rows/categories in the widget.

I happen to have a sample: ProductionSeasonSortandBudget.dash

Then for a column chart to use this sort value, requires that you not be using a Break By in your chart. Add, for example, the sort value on your chart. Put it into the first position among the values. Sort by this value, and if desired you can rename it to something less visible (like simply a period, "."). Set the color of the value to white. Then click on the hamburger for the value, and change the Series Type to Line. This will  render the white line invisible behind the rest of the chart elements, but still enforce the sort. Here's an example with Zone rank and there are examples of this in the pre-built dashboards.

Best,
Chris