# Sorting non standard columns
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [May 13, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667 "2024-05-13T12:35:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@oti](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oti)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/1 "2024-05-13T12:35:49Z")
Hi,
In the latest versions of mp3tag the sorting of non standard columns doesn't sort when the column is chosen for sorting.
I have a column called BAND which is mainly the same as ALBUMARTIST, but not always so. This is a column I've added myself as it isn't part of the standard columns coming with mp3tag.
I'm not entirely sure, but I think sorting this column used to work on earlier versions and I can't remember exactly from which version is stopped sorting.
Anyway it's not really a big issue, but at least now you know about this.
Thanks ever so much for the effort maintaining this excellent package.
Best regards, Ole-Tom Ingebrigtsen
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/2 "2024-05-13T12:47:52Z")
Could you describe with more details what does not work?
For that, the column definition and some examples where the sorting does not work would be helpful.
Or the other way round: the columns with user-defined entries in my installation still sort as expected.
---
### Author:  [@oti](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oti)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/3 "2024-05-21T12:36:10Z")
Sorry for the delay. I have added a field 'BAND' to be shown on the mp3tag screen when it lists the tag for music files. On all the normal fields I can click on the column header to choose to sort by this column either ascending or descending. I can click on the 'BAND' column too but the click doesn't cause the list to be sorted. In particular, if I have a list of several thousand of files, I want to use sort to see which fields are empty. I do this to update files that are missing tag information and sorting the empty fields on top or bottom makes it easier to work with the files that have empty fields.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/4 "2024-05-21T13:05:03Z")
I just created a column for the field %band% and with the value %band% - and it sorts like it should.
So, the questions remain:
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> For that, the column definition and some examples where the sorting does not work would be helpful.
Which means: show a screenshot of the column definition.
Also show a screenshot of a sorted column for BAND which does not sort you expected.
To find fields with no information in a field use the filter:
%field% MISSING
You may encounter undesirable results if you have ticked "numeric" for a field that does not contain any numbers, e.g. BAND.
---
### Author:  [@oti](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/oti)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/5 "2024-05-22T11:55:46Z")
Thanks a lot. For my purposes, a filter like you described will do the job. I tried to send you a few screenshots on e-mail but of course, that was a noreply e-mail 🙂 Anyway, this is not a big deal and with using filtering, I have what I need.
---
### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2024, 12:07pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/6 "2024-05-22T12:07:31Z")
> [@oti](#):
>
> I tried to send you a few screenshots on e-mail but of course, that was a noreply e-mail
You can post the screenshots here in the forum. These are handy references to help clarify any issues that can be resolved.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2024, 12:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/7 "2024-05-22T12:11:17Z")
> [@oti](#):
>
> screenshots on e-mail but of course
The column definition should look like this:
and see also this thread which also advises how to add screenshots:
> [@Hints for asking Support Requests](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190):
>
> If you need support using Mp3tag, you can help the community members that are about to support you in finding a solution or workaround to your problem, by following these simple guidelines. Be descriptive, also in what you’ve already tried Please give a short explanation what’s not working as expected or what you’re trying to achieve. It’s best to know any details about the problem at hand and especially, what steps you’ve already tried to solve it by yourself. Helpful information also includ…
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-non-standard-columns/64667/8 "2024-07-15T13:31:05Z")
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.