Help: sort files by type?

Subject: sort music files by type?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 08:04 AM

This is a continuation of a previous thread on backing up music files onto floppies. A couple other Mudcatters told me to sort the file names in My Documents by Type. I have Windows 98, and there isn't any "Type" on the toolbar. I checked all the drop-down menus, looked at Help, and wandered into a blind alley which ended with the irritating piano sound and a diagnostic that .nwc files already exist.

One Catter said to click on the bar at the top of the Type column in WinExplorer. There isn't any "Type" column in my Explorer. Neither is there any "Name" bar. If I'm on the net and want to look at my documents, I have to minimize Explorer, so I don't understand how a toolbar from Explorer could help.

I downloaded an update to my Windows Explorer a few months ago. Why are my Windows and Explorer screens so different from other people's?

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 08:53 AM

just an idea...open Explorer, go to the menu along the top, choose "view" and then in the drop down menu choose "details" and this should give you the "name" "type" etc headings above a list of your files.
could that be it?

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 08:53 AM

Open Explorer, go to the View menu and select Details to get the view you want.

There are many other options you can choose or experiment with in the view menu. Personally I like the straight details list with the folder options set to show all file extensions and all file types (including hidden and system files).

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: Tiger
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 08:55 AM

1. You shouldn't have to minimize. Be sure your task bar is visible (default location = bottom of screen, but it could be hidden or moved). Then you can just click the task you want to make the active window.

2. Alt-Tab will cycle you through all of your open windows.

3. Make sure Explorer is set to View Details - then you should me able to see the name, size and type headers. Click on header to sort, click again to reverse the sort.

C'mon back if you're still having trouble.

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 09:46 AM

Maybe you're looking for the wrong terminology -- on a Mac, it would be sort files by "kind" -- Menu "View", item "Arrange" and then "By Kind" (other options, "Name," "Date Created", "Date Modified", "Size," etc.

Of course, that's Mac, not a Wintel box.

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 10:08 AM

I think Lenia is confusing Internet Explorer (the browser) with Windows Explorer (which lists files on the PC)

In My Computer (or Windows Explorer) click on the Options drop down menu and set to Details. You will see the headings over the list of files Name, Size, Type, Modified. Clicking on any of these will sort by this field. Clicking again toggle between ascending and descending order.

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 10:17 AM

I'm in Windows Explorer now and there is no menu called OPTIONS.

Here's how I do it.

I put my cursor in the section I want to sort.

Then in the VIEW menu, I choose LIST.

Next, again in the VIEW MENU, I choose ARRANGE ICONS (even tho I am viewing a list, not just icons).

Another short menu appears, offering to sort by Name, Type, Size, Date.

I choose the one I want.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 03:05 PM

Thank you, Peter from Essex. I was confused about Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer. I have now found Windows Explorer, and it looks like I'm getting somewhere. For anyone else reading this, Windows Explorer is on the Start menu, under Programs.

WYSIWYG is right that there is no Options listing. However, when I clicked on the word Type, it sorted my files by extension. Not, of course, in alphabetical order or anything logical like that. (Bill Gates doesn't want to be taken for Casper Milquetoast, I guess.) At last all my NWC files are together.

Now, can I copy them? We shall see.

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 07:21 PM

You can also start Windows Expolere by holding down the Windows Start key and pressing E at the same time.

In Windows Explorer click View on the top Menu bar and make sure it is set to Details, not Large Icons, Small Icons or List.

The right hand side will then have column headings Name, Size, Type and Modified.

Click on any of these headers to sort by that characteristic - click again to switch between ascending/descending sorts.

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 07:36 PM

Never knew that one Snuffy. For me, it sits on the task bar (which I like set to autohide) along with my other most used programs.

Thinking of Windows user configurations: how many people are like me and prefer the single click setup to the double click one?

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 03:39 AM


I think the original question has been answered, so perhaps a little thread creep is permissible.

Windows users in my neighborhood usually are thinking of Windows Explorer when they use just the word "Explorer."

Most of my associates say "IE" - sometimes pronounced "aiyeeeeeeeeeeee!" when referring to Internet Explorer.

As has been reported above, you find Windows Explorer by going to "Start," sliding up to programs, and looking down the list.

I happen to be one of those archaic dinosaurs (possibly only because it drives Bill G...s crazy) who likes to have my main programs on the desktop. If you right click on a program (like Windows Explorer) in the Start list, one choice available is "create shortcut." Look down at the bottom of the list to find the new shortcut, and drag it to the desktop, and it will be ready when you want it. (Right click on the shortcut icon, and you can rename it to something sensible - or change the icon in "Properties.")

I don't usually put stuff on the start bar, because I use too many programs to fit them all there.

Re Windows Explorer:
I strongly recommend, once Explorer is open, going to View and selecting "Details."
Additionally, back in Explorer, select View and then Window Options. This will open a little window where you can select a "View" tab where you can tailor what Explorer shows you.
It is strongly recommended - not just by me - that you UNCLICK the box labelled "Hide File Extensions for Known File Types" and that you select "Show All Files."
The reason for the latter is that a number of virus types recently have used "double extensions" that don't show (if either extension matches a "known type"). The selection you make here can affect what you see when you get that "questionable" email attachment.

For Jon F: I don't like the "single click open" setting, simply because there are times when I want to be able to select (one click) a file/shortcut without opening. This setting affects how files open in some programs. In Word, in particular, I often want to run down a list of files and look at the "preview" to find the one I want. Setting the "single click" mode sometimes results in "executing" the "open" before I want it.
Incidentally - for Word at least, You get a better "preview" if you NEVER "save preview" with your files. -- One of MickeySofts little miracles.

John

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 05:06 PM

Just one more comment to the above. You mentioned that your listing by type didn't come out in alpha order. If you first sort on Name, then on Type, the list will usually be alpha within type.

Subject: RE: Help: sort files by type?
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 10:05 PM

Jon, just noticed your question about single vs. double-click. I've used single click ever since it became available. Until I learned to use it properly I had some strange results, but I hate it now when I sit down to a computer that's still set up for double clicking.