sorting music files in Finder

Question

Level 1

11 points

sorting music files in Finder

I download music from several sources I subscribe to - all MP3 files.

I download them to my music folder with separate sub-folders for each album I download.

In the finder view, I can sort on file name, the date and a couple others.

These mp3 files also have the track number encoded.

I want to sort on the track number and not alphabetically by song title or chronologically by date.

I can't figure out how to get finder to do this. All this info is in ID3 coding. Doesn't finder automatically recognize mp3 as a music file? If so, why doesn't Finder provide the ability to display music files in any order I choose, whether it's the artist, song title, year, genre, etc?

Thanks Vince.

iMac & Macbook Pro, 13 inch, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Nov 8, 2009 2:48 PM

Reply

Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Nov 8, 2009 2:53 PM in response to vbbuilt

That's not possible. While in the Finder window, select View->Show View Options to see which columns can be added. That might be possible if you add them to your music library via iTunes, but I don't do that, so check the iTunes forum.

Reply

Answer 2

vbbuilt Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 8, 2009 3:03 PM in response to vbbuilt

Eeek, this query is in the wrong folder! Sorry!

How can I move it to the right folder in Snow Leopard forum? I was going to put it in the "Finder and Dock" thread.

Should I delete and repost or can the mod do it?

Thanks, vince.

Reply

Answer 3

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Nov 8, 2009 3:07 PM in response to vbbuilt

The feature(s) you want have been built into the most common way of dealing with music specifics - iTunes.

It wouldn't be practical to expect the Finder to sort on every attribute of every file type for every user.

Reply

Answer 4

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Nov 8, 2009 3:19 PM in response to vbbuilt

You can't delete a post. Just make a new one in the iTunes forum and mark this one solved, with a final post saying you posted elsewhere and include the new post's URL.

Reply

Answer 5

vbbuilt Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 8, 2009 4:13 PM in response to baltwo

As ballot comments, this topic isn't solved, but it's in the wrong thread.

I'll start the same one in the appropriate thread.

Thanks, Vince.

Reply

Answer 6

vbbuilt Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 8, 2009 4:19 PM in response to K T

Understood, but your argument falls apart simply because iTunes isn't the only mac program that can play files. Since iTunes is a fundamental part of the OS, it only stands to reason that the full sort capability with in iTunes should've been enabled in Finder. After all, if all I want to do is manipulate files and not listen to them, then why use iTunes. I merely want to rearrange those file in different order WITHOUT using iTunes.

Vince

Reply

Answer 7

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Nov 8, 2009 5:03 PM in response to vbbuilt

Go to the Finder - use the keys: command-F

When that 'search' window opens, use the pull-downs to search on:
• kind: music

...then look on the right and hit the '+' icon to add another filter/attribute for the search. Use the menu that appears for 'other' (sorted alphabetically) to select 'Track number' -- Hit [√] to place this attribute in the pull-down menu.

Search for all music files with track number of whatever - or just use track number...your choice.

Go back and add or subtract filters from the 'other' list as required and then save your crafted search in the sidebar.

You're now using the Finder to search on track number for MP3s.

Reply