directory listings

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When you use the detail or list format on a directory listing it will sort according to alphabetical order either ascending or descending with file folders listed 1st if going from a to z then followed by files in the same order for that directory . If the files start with a number that will precede a file starting with a letter but still after the file folder listing.

Question: Does anybody know of a way to put a particular file as the first item in a directory followed by the usual folder file hierarchy? In other words I have a directory filled with file folders. In addition I have one Excel file (not in a folder) in the same directory. I want to list the Excel file first then the file folder in descending order from A to Z.

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When you use the detail or list format on a directory listing it will sort according to alphabetical order either ascending or descending with file folders listed 1st if going from a to z then followed by files in the same order for that directory . If the files start with a number that will precede a file starting with a letter but still after the file folder listing.

Question: Does anybody know of a way to put a particular file as the first item in a directory followed by the usual folder file hierarchy? In other words I have a directory filled with file folders. In addition I have one Excel file (not in a folder) in the same directory. I want to list the Excel file first then the file folder in descending order from A to Z.

Norm,
Hello..In Vista you can just drag things to where you want them, and place them in-spite of their alphabetical listing. In ” 7 ” seems you can’t do that . So….what i have done is append some letter or number to the file folder to “make it go ” where i want. Regards Fred

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I think the only way is as Fred states to add a system before the name to place the file first (i.e. 111, or aaa or some such). This will not put the file ahead of the folders, but will place it in front of other files.

You could try:

select More:

You may find a method to accomplish what you want on this rather lengthy list.

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norm201, if you have not too many files you want placed at the top of the list, remove them from the list then replace them, then use sort by date modified.

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norm201, if you have not too many files you want placed at the top of the list, remove them from the list then replace them, then use sort by date modified.

Good idea. Unfortunately this does not resolve my particular problem. This is one of those stupid little annoyances that I thought I could resolve. Its not very important. The spreadsheet file is an index to the rest of the file folders in the directory. There are over 400 file folders in the directory and still growing. And as luck would have it, I usually need access to the A through F folds most of the time. I must scroll to the end of the list to get to the spreadsheet or re-order in descending order. Then I must rescan the list to find the particular folder I want access to. In other words I want the Excel sheet file to always be at the top of the list but the file folders in alphabetical order. I know, it’s a rather stupid request but no harm in asking. The upside of asking these type of questions is the neat tricks I get from fellow forum members like you that I can use at other times. Your idea is a good one that I will use in the future. Thanks, Norm.

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One thing to consider – you can rename the spreadsheet to something unique as compared to your folder names – such as beginning with one or more zeroes. Then in Windows Explorer when your are in the main folder select the first folder and type the first character or two of the spreadsheet name. Yes, it is kind of a hokey work around but it should save some scrolling time.

Joe

--Joe

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norm201, why not make sub folders for important and willy nilly. I do it for my bookmarks.

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Have you tried putting a blank space in front? Just remember that you did that though, it may make it tough to do syncing and searching for if you forget. Don’t forget about using “alt255” to create the blank space.

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For instance, you have twenty five folders and just one file and you want the file at the top of the list.
Bring all that up in Windows Explorer and click “Name” at the top of the column until things are set in the order you want.
The order of items in a column will change every time that you click the title of that column. It’s a Windows thing!

I guess that’s an over-simplification, but hey, you’re dealing with simple people here. Eh?

Doc

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Perhaps put the Excel file in a Folder named “A-Z Index”. That should put the folder at the top of your folders list.

I too get annoyed with Windows trying to organise MY files.

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