# Sorting columns by filetype
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-columns-by-filetype/63782
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [February 15, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-columns-by-filetype/63782 "2024-02-15T17:39:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DataCleaner](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DataCleaner)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-columns-by-filetype/63782/1 "2024-02-15T17:39:34Z")
This a request for an intuitive way to _sort_ by filetype.
Currently we can sort all but one column. The first (fixed) column has no label but displays filetype icons. Counterintuitively, it does not sort by filetype, but randomizes the list. This function is difficult to discover for both those who want it and those who don't.
Rather than a metadata cleaning/editing feature, this appears to be an extension for using a metadata editor to make playlists.
It seems that clicking the filetype column header to sort would be every bit as useful as a randomize function and would be internally and externally consistent with typical column behavior.
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-columns-by-filetype/63782/2 "2024-02-15T18:39:46Z")
Just add a new column in the [File List](https://docs.mp3tag.de/customization/file-list/) with the Value
`%_extension%`
and you can sort by this content like it works for every other column.
> [@DataCleaner](#):
>
> It seems that clicking the filetype column header to sort would be every bit as useful as a randomize function
Another idea would be:
Add a second and third behaviour (in addition to random):
Sort ascending or descending by filetype.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-columns-by-filetype/63782/3 "2024-02-15T18:51:26Z")
> [@DataCleaner](#):
>
> It seems that clicking the filetype column header to sort would be every bit as useful as a randomize function
As the randomizer function is a function that has been implemented decades ago it would force longtime users to unlearn an old custom.
See e.g. this (German) thread vom 2005:
> [@Random Sortierfunktion](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/random-sortierfunktion/2689):
>
> Hallo Florian, Folgendes: Habe mir eine große Dateisammlung angelegt mit nur einem Stil. Ich möchte die Dateien auf DVD brennen, jedoch sollen diese nicht nach Namen sortiert werden. ein kleines Beispiel: (So soll es nicht sein) Artist1 - Trackname1.mp3 Artist2 - Trackname2.mp3 Artist3 - Trackname3.mp3 Artist4 - Trackname4.mp3 Artist5 - Trackname5.mp3 ... So soll es dann später aussehen. Artist1 - Trackname1.mp3 Artist3 - Trackname3.mp3 Artist5 - Trackname5.mp3 Artist4 - Trackname4.m…
Sorting by file extension by click on this column would not be a beneficial shortcut for me as I frequently have albums that have video files besides the audio files. So sorting by other criteria usually would bring me further.