Alphabetical order of itunes

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Level 1

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Alphabetical order of itunes

Alphabetical order typically is organized numbers first, followed by A-Z. itunes organizes this way in all situations except when a number begins the name of an artist. How can I organize my artists alphabetically so that artists beginning with a number will come first then artists A-Z?
For example: alphabetically the artist "311" should come before the artist "Abandones Pools" and I would like it to be this way. Right now, "311" shows up after the artist "Zero 7". However, the artist "M83" shows up before the artist "Mae". I want the number to come first alphabetically in all situations. How do I do that?

Posted on Mar 26, 2009 12:17 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Buegie

Level 6

13,331 points

Mar 26, 2009 12:58 PM in response to emceecuen

"+Alphabetical order typically is organized numbers first, followed by A-Z+"

There is no 'typical'. Different computer systems use differing character-sets that have letters first or numbers first. This can based on their ASCII numerical value or a customized sort program within the software.

I do not believe that you can change the way iTunes internally sorts the data.

You can, however, manage the 'Sort Artist' &/or 'Sort Album' fields for any song file (or group of files). You may have to be creative to get the numbers 'floating' to the top of the sort. i.e. - Putting a leading character such as a '.' in front of the numeric Artist or Album. Figure it out for yourself if it is truly important to you.

Best of Luck

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Answer 2

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Mar 26, 2009 2:08 PM in response to emceecuen

iTunes 7.3 changed the sort order:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2642

You can mess around with the sort order field, too, as the article suggests.
I assume you don't want to change MP3 tags that other programs might be using. Sort order is an itunes-only tag, I believe.

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Answer 3

May 1, 2009 5:48 PM in response to Katrina S.

I read the link. Thanks for that. So THAT's why my track numbers from my vinyl rips are ignored while importing them to iTunes! The numbers in the beginning of the file names are ignored (as of Aug. 2008 and iTunes version 7.3). Yuck!!!

Also re-importing a folder of tracks that used to be in order of track numbers in itunes will now in alphabetical. Argh!

Besides manually dragging each song into itunes in backwards order, is there a better work-around?

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Answer 4

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

May 1, 2009 10:55 PM in response to Chris-Alex

Not that I'm aware of.

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Answer 5

Stubchain

Level 1

104 points

May 4, 2009 7:37 PM in response to Buegie

Buegie wrote:
"+Alphabetical order typically is organized numbers first, followed by A-Z+"

There is no 'typical'. Different computer systems use differing character-sets that have letters first or numbers first. This can based on their ASCII numerical value or a customized sort program within the software.

I have been using computers of all sorts since the late 80's I have yet to see a system/program that puts letters before numbers in lists other than iTunes (7.3 onwards).

It totally goes against the whole western worlds use of modern memory chips. There is no logical reason for it other than Apple wants it that way so they can be different, (ever mind world standards who needs them)

Message was edited by: Stubchain

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