How do you copy files in alphabetical or numerical order?

W

WoodKnotter

The MuVo user manual says that you must copy the files one at a time to
ensure the order. This works but takes a little time. Because of this MuVo
"quirk", I copy the files to hard disk and arrange them alphabetically
first. This didn't help. I then tried prefixing each file with a number.
This didn't help. How can you copy them in order? This ability could be used
on any drive, etc.
 
S

Sharon F

The MuVo user manual says that you must copy the files one at a time to
ensure the order. This works but takes a little time. Because of this MuVo
"quirk", I copy the files to hard disk and arrange them alphabetically
first. This didn't help. I then tried prefixing each file with a number.
This didn't help. How can you copy them in order? This ability could be used
on any drive, etc.
Click to expand...

No offense but I never understand why one would want to copy files in a
certain order. Maybe you can enlighten me?

As I see it, the goals with data files is storing them safely and retrieval
of information. I don't care what order they're in as long as I can find my
data. Most of the time, I will use file names for retrieval but sometimes
refer to date or location. File management and search tools offer a variety
of view options for that reason.
 
D

David Candy

On NTFS files are always alphabetical. On Fat they are the order copied into the directory.
 
W

WoodKnotter

In the MuVo case, the tracks are played in the order that they are loaded.
There is no way to select the track that you want except by clicking the
"Next" arrow button. Each time the unit is turned on, it starts from the
beginning (it doesn't remember where it left off). Therefore; I load the
tracks I like the most near the top of the heap. ..... WoodKnotter
 
W

WoodKnotter

I have XP Pro and the file system is NTFS. Thanks, ..... WoodKnotter

On NTFS files are always alphabetical. On Fat they are the order copied into
the directory.
 
S

Sharon F

In the MuVo case, the tracks are played in the order that they are loaded.
There is no way to select the track that you want except by clicking the
"Next" arrow button. Each time the unit is turned on, it starts from the
beginning (it doesn't remember where it left off). Therefore; I load the
tracks I like the most near the top of the heap. ..... WoodKnotter
Click to expand...

Thanks, WoodKnotter. I really did want to know and appreciate that you
explained this.
 
S

Sharon F

On NTFS files are always alphabetical. On Fat they are the order copied into the directory.
Click to expand...

Really? Never knew that, David. One of the finer points of NTFS that I
haven't learned yet. Thanks.
 
D

David Candy

In Fat, to find a file windows examines every file from the top. So 3000 files and you want the bottom one, that 3000 comparisions. If it's alphabetical then it can jump to the middle and work out if it's above or below, then 1/2 the search again, and again, till only 1 is left, I think less than 20 comparisions (there's a formula).
 
S

Sharon F

In Fat, to find a file windows examines every file from the top. So 3000
files and you want the bottom one, that 3000 comparisions. If it's
alphabetical then it can jump to the middle and work out if it's above
or below, then 1/2 the search again, and again, till only 1 is left, I
think less than 20 comparisions (there's a formula).
Click to expand...

That's quite a difference. Guess I'll be spending some time at technet and
around the net this week reading more about NTFS. Most of the info I've
found and read up to this point hasn't even mentioned this aspect. Thanks
again!
 
W

WoodKnotter

I have XP Pro using the NTFS and Windows Media Player 9. I hi-lited music
files (that I had prefixed with a number) using Windows Explorer. These
files were all in the same folder and were displayed in ascending numerical
order starting with 001. I right-clicked then selected "Queue-it-up".
Windows Media Player launched and the order was 14-21; 1-12; 13.
Can someone try this and see if they get different results? Thanks, .....
WoodKnotter
 
D

David Candy

Dir (in a command prompt), without any switches, gives you the file order. The sort order in explorer has nothing to do with it.

The shell is different. The shell works with objects which are known by numbers.
2284
1320
2252
2372

These are the way the first 4 files in C:\ are known as to Explorer. You'll note there is no order. These numbers are only valid while a folder is opened by you or by a program using shell commands (rather than file commands - not all objects are files). This is probably what is happening.

If you Drag n Drop they are copied to the clipboard in the order selected.

I've attached two files. Put the bat in c:\ and merge the reg file. Right click a file, choose IDLIST and it will report the number. The second number is the containing folder.

Compare numbers with the order in MPlayer and see if it matches.
--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
WoodKnotter said:
I have XP Pro using the NTFS and Windows Media Player 9. I hi-lited music
files (that I had prefixed with a number) using Windows Explorer. These
files were all in the same folder and were displayed in ascending numerical
order starting with 001. I right-clicked then selected "Queue-it-up".
Windows Media Player launched and the order was 14-21; 1-12; 13.
Can someone try this and see if they get different results? Thanks, ......
WoodKnotter
Click to expand...
 
W

WoodKnotter

I did this and it works as you say. ...But I want it to work "my way". Oh,
well. I guess life isn't perfect. Thanks for your input. ..... WoodKnotter

Dir (in a command prompt), without any switches, gives you the file order.
The sort order in explorer has nothing to do with it.

The shell is different. The shell works with objects which are known by
numbers.
2284
1320
2252
2372

These are the way the first 4 files in C:\ are known as to Explorer. You'll
note there is no order. These numbers are only valid while a folder is
opened by you or by a program using shell commands (rather than file
commands - not all objects are files). This is probably what is happening.

If you Drag n Drop they are copied to the clipboard in the order selected.

I've attached two files. Put the bat in c:\ and merge the reg file. Right
click a file, choose IDLIST and it will report the number. The second number
is the containing folder.

Compare numbers with the order in MPlayer and see if it matches.
--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
WoodKnotter said:
I have XP Pro using the NTFS and Windows Media Player 9. I hi-lited music
files (that I had prefixed with a number) using Windows Explorer. These
files were all in the same folder and were displayed in ascending numerical
order starting with 001. I right-clicked then selected "Queue-it-up".
Windows Media Player launched and the order was 14-21; 1-12; 13.
Can someone try this and see if they get different results? Thanks, ......
WoodKnotter

copied
into the directory.
Click to expand...
 

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