Name sort in finder recognizing number values, not sorting letter by letter

pinkstones wrote:

That's what is supposed to happen. That's how you file something alphabetically when there are also strings of numbers in the name.

That doesn't explain why "BOB DSN 1700…" (the one highlighted) is where it's located in the order.

EdinNorway wrote:

El Capitan 10.11.3 Macbook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)

I have a finder window open to a particular folder viewed as a list. I clicked on the Name column and the files are listed alphabetically in ascending order....almost. The following file names are not actually alphabetical because it seems that Finder recognizes a document number in the name which starts with a higher number in the first digit, but is a smaller number overall. Is this an old problem that everyone already knows about and I've just missed the solution? Apologies if this is the case. Can you please direct me to where I can learn how to sort these letter by letter?

thx

That's what is supposed to happen. That's how you file something alphabetically when there are also strings of numbers in the name. I've done a lot of filing in my life, like actual filing of folders and paperwork, not just filing on a computer, and that's the standard. It goes alphabetically then numerically.

For example, if I have files named xyz125, xzy100, and xyz228, they will be sorted xyz125, xyz228, and xzy100. Why? "xz" comes after "xy" and 125 comes before 228.

FWIW, I don't have any files labeled the same as yours so I can't check anything but, in the Finder View Menu, View Options (Cmd+J), there is both an Arrange by and Sort by. You could try the various settings and see what changes.

EdinNorway wrote:

Seems like there would have been a way to force a pure alphabetic sort as is done in Excel, but based on your response the order is as it is supposed to be.

ed

Actually it's not. See my previous post.

dialabrain wrote:

pinkstones wrote:

That's what is supposed to happen. That's how you file something alphabetically when there are also strings of numbers in the name.

That doesn't explain why "BOB DSN 1700…" (the one highlighted) is where it's located in the order.

B08 comes after B06, and 1700 comes before 4816. That's not a B, it's an 8.

dialabrain wrote:

pinkstones wrote:

Yes it does. B08 comes after B06, and 1700 comes before 4816.

Geez, I need glasses. I thought it said "BOB". Apparently you may also, I typed "BOB" in my reply. 😁

I already wear glasses, and I recognized that you thought it was a B rather than an 8, which is why I said no, the order the file was listed in is correct.

dialabrain wrote:

It would have been more clear if you said "BO8 not BOB"

And it's only correct when it doesn't say "BOB". 😝

I thought it was clear when I said that B08 comes after B06 that you mistakenly thought the 8 was a B.

I can type about 100 wpm (last time I was tested), so it's six of one and a half-dozen of the other as far as that goes, but I thought it would be politer to explain my response rather than say "B08 not B0B," which sounds like I think you're stupid. Last I checked, people don't appreciate that.

Guess that'll learn me.

but I thought it would be politer to explain my response rather than say "B08 not B0B," which sounds like I think you're stupid

Not really. Either way I would have thought I needed glasses. What people "think" online is of no consequence to me. 😎

pinkstones wrote:

Yes it does. B08 comes after B06, and 1700 comes before 4816.

Geez, I need glasses. I thought it said "BOB". Apparently you may also, I typed "BOB" in my reply. 😁

It would have been more clear if you said "BO8 not BOB"

And it's only correct when it doesn't say "BOB". 😝

Perhaps I should have said "shorter". But then you would miss out on all that typing.