The numeric values definitely do not need to be sorted by value
@mfbeuq could you please report the pandas version installed in your environment? (type conda list pandas into the terminal) Is this a "fresh" QIIME 2 isntallation or have you done anything to the environment? I ask because the error message indicates that this is exploding at a very unusual line:
This is suggesting to me that the pandas version may be at fault?
Thanks @mfbeuq! hang in there!
P.S., I recategorized as "technical support"