Files Not Sorted in "Select File" Dialogs and "dir" Command

[a_gera80]

I have a strange problem that only seems to be happening on one PC.

The problem is that in some applications (not many*), when the 'Select
Files' dialog window opens, the files within folders are not sorted
alphabetically - instead they are sorted in the order they were saved
into those folders.

*I'm guessing it only happens in applications that don't use the
standard Windows dialog box.

However the same thing happens when doing a "dir" using the Command
Prompt. On all other PC's I've tried, the "dir" command automatically
sorts by name. On this particular PC, the files are sorted in the order
the files were saved into the folder.

Is there some setting somewhere that is controlling this?
Thanks,
Andrew

BTW I am using XP SP2.

 

[a_gera80]

One other thing I forgot to mention, the PC with the sorting problem is
using FAT32 and the ones that don't have the problem are using NTFS.
Could this have something to do with it?

 

[Sharon F]

I have a strange problem that only seems to be happening on one PC.

The problem is that in some applications (not many*), when the 'Select
Files' dialog window opens, the files within folders are not sorted
alphabetically - instead they are sorted in the order they were saved
into those folders.

*I'm guessing it only happens in applications that don't use the
standard Windows dialog box.

However the same thing happens when doing a "dir" using the Command
Prompt. On all other PC's I've tried, the "dir" command automatically
sorts by name. On this particular PC, the files are sorted in the order
the files were saved into the folder.

Is there some setting somewhere that is controlling this?
Thanks,
Andrew

BTW I am using XP SP2.

The following was posted recently by David Candy. You'll need to repeat the
steps with each program where you want to change dialog sort order.

[begin quote]
It been in Explorer since Win 95.

Ctrl + X on the titlebar. It must be a file folder. Dialogs read this once
per application (so you must stop and restart programs to see if it took).

Open Notepad, go File Open, set to all files (*.*) - look at the sort,
close Notepad.

Open an Folder window (ie not a file open/save dialog - a normal folder
window) via My Computer to C:\, sort how you want, Ctrl + X on title bar.

Open Notepad, go File Open - look at the sort, it changed.

Plus if you hold down control and click close while in a file folder it
also updates
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Shellstate=

This is mainly setting irrelevent things except it holds the global sort,
which all the others override. But File Open dialog boxes only use this
setting, so it basically only affects sorting in File Open dialogs. But it
seems that sometimes an earlier windows versions setting get written here
and other settings then aren't saved. It also stores show extensions, hide
hidden files etc.

It seems this is a different structure (it got XP specific settings in it)
to older OSs. Some non saving of settings is due to this key and I suspect
a Win 95 structure gets written over the XP one.

If your sort doesn't change close Explorer (Start - Shutdown - Ctrl + Alt +
Shift + click Close/Cancel), delete ShellState, and restart Explorer as the
shell and try again. Shutting the shell down the way I describe saves
settings.
[end quote]

 

[a_gera80]

Thanks for the reply. However this sorting issue does not occur in
standard File-Open dialogs. It's only a couple of applications that
seem to use their own custom dialog box, plus I notice the same lack of
sorting with the "dir" command if no switches are specified.

Could it be that the PC is using FAT32 instead of NTFS? I have a PC
where this sorting problem doesn't occur and the only difference I can
see is that this PC is using NTFS with the Indexing Service turned on
whereas the PC with the problem is using FAT32. Could the Indexing
Service be physically sorting the files on the disk alphabetically?

 

[Kelly]

This is normal behavior for third party programs. In the meantime:

Incorrect Sort Order in Windows Explorer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q318872

The sorting method is changed in Windows XP. The method that is used for
sorting is described at the following MSDN Web site: StrCmpLogicalW Function

Change the Sort Order Back to W2K Style (Line 107)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by
right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

Sort All by Alphabet - Start Menu and Fav's (Line 196)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--
Happy New Year,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com