# Length sorts as Text, not Numeric

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [September 7, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867 "2018-09-07T01:22:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![phossler](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@phossler](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/phossler)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867/1 "2018-09-07T01:22:44Z")

</div>

If you sort the Length column, it seems to sort as Text, not as Numeric

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![poster](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/poster/32/4881_2.png) [@poster](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/poster)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867/2 "2018-09-07T04:20:17Z")

</div>

How is your length-column defined? (Value, Sort by ..)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2018, 6:10am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867/3 "2018-09-07T06:10:35Z")

</div>

%\_length% represents the formatted output - which is an alphanumeric string more or less.

To get a numeric treatment set these properties in the column definition:  
sort by: %\_length\_seconds%  
numeric: ticked.

Also see this fixed bug:

> [@\[F\] Sorting on %\_Length% field doesn't sort correctly](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/f-sorting-on-length-field-doesnt-sort-correctly/6616/5):
>
> No need to parse seconds slight_smile Just leave %\_length% as before and enter %\_length\_seconds% at Sort by. Also make sure that you tick the Numeric checkbox as dano suggested.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![phossler](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@phossler](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/phossler)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2018, 11:55am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867/4 "2018-09-07T11:55:36Z")

</div>

Thanks to all

The 'Sort By' works great

I didn't understand that field

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/length-sorts-as-text-not-numeric/42867/5 "2026-02-09T12:27:38Z")

</div>