When I say “alphabetical order”, I mean “alphabetical order” (sebastiano.tronto.net)

Article summary

The author experienced an issue with file sorting in various operating systems, where files were not sorted alphabetically as expected. The problem arose due to the system's interpretation of numerical values within file names, leading to incorrect sorting. The author's phone and dad's phone used different naming schemes, causing the issue. The author eventually discovered that the problem was due to the system's use of natural sorting instead of strict alphabetical sorting.

Main themes

• File sorting
• Alphabetical order
• Natural sorting
• Operating system quirks
• User interface design

What commenters say

• The behavior described in the article is a useful feature, but it should be optional and not imposed on the user by default.
• The term 'alphabetical order' is often misunderstood and can be ambiguous, especially when dealing with non-English characters and Unicode.
• Some commenters argue that the default sorting behavior is sensible and that most users would want the sort that's offered, while others disagree and want more control over sorting options.
• The use of natural sorting can be convenient, but it can also lead to unexpected results, and a strict alphabetical sort option should be available.
• The issue is not just about sorting numbers, but also about how different characters and representations are handled in various languages and encoding systems.
• Some operating systems have been using natural sorting for a long time, while others have only recently adopted it, leading to inconsistencies and user confusion.
• The author's expectation of strict alphabetical sorting is not unreasonable, and the lack of control over sorting options is a problem that needs to be addressed.