# Sorting on multiple columns

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379
**Category:** Mac
**Created:** [August 31, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379 "2022-08-31T14:29:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![marange](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@marange](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/marange)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379/1 "2022-08-31T14:29:41Z")

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Hi everyone,

Maybe someone could help me. Is it possible to sort the list of files on multiple columns on the mac version? I tried everything I could think of, but no results. The sorting is always on one column.

Regards,  
Angelo

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### Author: ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379/2 "2022-08-31T15:14:57Z")

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Hi and welcome!

You can either sort by _Column 2_ first and then by _Column 1_ or create a dedicated "sorting column" via _Preferences → File List_ that has a format string at _Sort by_ which resembles the different criteria you want for sorting, e.g., `%_path%` or `%artist%%year%%album%$num(%track%,2)`

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### Author: ![marange](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@marange](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/marange)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379/3 "2022-08-31T15:19:53Z")

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Hi Florian,

Thank you for your fast reply. But I don't understand what you mean by sort by Column 2 first and then by Column 1. When I click on a column it will sort, but when I click on another column it will sort on that column.

But thanks for the hint in the Preferences. I did not know that File List was used for that. I will look into this.

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### Author: ![MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/motleyg/32/440_2.png) [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379/4 "2022-08-31T15:21:52Z")

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> [@Florian](#):
>
> _Preferences → File List_ that has a format string at _Sort by_ which resembles the different criteria you want for sorting, e.g., `%_path%` or `%artist%%year%%album%$num(%track%,2)`

This is the way I do it, and it is very helpful. For example, my "Album" column displays `%Album%` but is sorted using this logic; `%albumsort% %discnumber% %track% %title%`  
 ![image](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3f5c8ebd58cd769ce85859f4e77c41db7077a63e.png)

Plus that way when you click on the column, it will always sort with this method.

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### Author: ![marange](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@marange](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/marange)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379/5 "2022-08-31T15:28:53Z")

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Thats smart 😊 Thank you for sharing this. I will make use of your idea 😃

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### Author: ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/sorting-on-multiple-columns/58379/6 "2023-02-07T20:00:45Z")

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