How can I sort a CMS collection with multi-reference fields in Webflow? The option to sort seems to be missing.

You’re trying to sort a CMS Collection in Webflow using a multi-reference field, but Webflow currently does not support sorting by multi-reference fields directly.

1. Understand Webflow’s Limitation with Multi-Reference Fields

• Webflow does not allow sorting or filtering a collection list based on multi-reference fields.
• Multi-reference fields are intended to connect multiple CMS items (e.g., Authors in a Blog Post) but cannot be used as sorting keys in collection lists.

2. Use Single Reference as a Workaround

• If your use case allows it, replace the multi-reference with a single reference field.
• Single reference fields can be used in both filters and sorting within a collection list.

3. Re-Structure Your Collection

• In some cases, it may be better to invert the relationship.
• For example:
• Instead of having a “Blog Post” with a multi-reference field to “Authors”,
• Make “Authors” the main collection and reference the “Blog Post” (if only one is expected per author), so you can sort blog posts per author.

4. Use Filtering via Conditional Visibility (Limited Control)

• You can simulate simple filtering by using conditional visibility on collection items.
• This approach doesn’t sort the list but lets you hide/show items based on certain field conditions or referenced content.

5. Use Custom JavaScript (If Needed)

• If you absolutely need sorting based on multi-reference content:
• Add custom JavaScript to manipulate the DOM after page load.
• This is not officially supported and may require a custom API/JSON solution if pulling CMS content externally.

Summary

Webflow does not support sorting by multi-reference fields directly. To sort, consider using single reference fields, restructure your CMS, or use custom scripts if necessary.