Sorting Network Connections Alphabetically

[cycledick]

I have dozens and dozens of network connection and I want them to be permanently sorted Alphabetically. I go up to "View -> Arrange Icons By Name" and it sorts them just fine. If I close the window and reopen it, they are kind of sorted Alpabetically. All the "A"s are together, all the "B"s are together, etc, but all the connections that start with an specific letter are not Alphabetical. They are in the order in which I added them. If I click on the "name" column again it sorts them properly.

Example: Connection 1 is "Apple". It was added first. Connection 2 is "Access". It was added second. When I sort them "By Name" they show up as "Access" then "Apple", like they are suppose to. If I close the window and open it again all the "A"s are together but, "Apple" is first and "Access" is second since that the order I added the connections.

Anyone have any ideas on this one?

 

[porty]

If I understand you correctly, your 'My Network Places' folder shows a huge collection of LAN links.

I have an idea that this folder shows ALL previous connections, so it tends to be a mess. This might be why you have trouble keeping it tidy.

What I did was to create a new desktop folder named My Real Network and in there I created shortcuts to only the particular folders that I visited regularly on my other machines. Then I renamed them as I wanted and even changed their icons.

This folder's contents don't change, unlike the other which is just a clutter, so I never go there.

 

[cycledick]

Well, not really. They are all currently used dialup RAS connections. I access a lot of equipment via RAS so I'm using them everyday. It would just be nice if they stayed sorted so I can find the one I'm looking for quickly. I'd say that folder trick would work well if had the same connections all the time. But I add a new ones (which can be daily, sometime I add 3 or 4 a day) all the time. I'd have to add the shortcut to the other folder as well. I'm sure I would forget to do that for some since I'm often adding them in a hurry because I'm on the phone with someone who's waiting for me to get in there and do something. Then if I forgot, I'd have to look in two places. Any idea why it's not sorting properly? It just seems weird that it CAN sort them if I click on the name column, but only puts them in to letter groups when I first open the window.

 

[SirBlack]

I had a similar problem with a folder that I wanted to sort the files by Created but could not get the folder to hold that setting. Each time I would go into it, I would have to select Choose Details & put a check in Created & then resort. I finally decided to Hide one of the choices (I believe it was Size), moved Created up & resorted. Voila! Created stays as 1 of my 4 options along with Name, Type & Date Modified. I don't know if this will help you.

Bob B-)

 

[porty]

Interesting, SirBlack. How did you "hide one of the choices"?

 

[cycledick]

Well, and it's not that it's NOT sorting alphabetically, because all the A's are together and all the B's are together, so that's okay. But all the one's that start with an A aren't in alphabetical order. I'm not doing anything special, just "view" -> "Arrange Icons by" -> "Name". Hmm, I'm beginning to think I'm losing my nut!

 

[linney]

Are they Alphanumeric names?


319827 - The Sort Order for Files and Folders Whose Names Contain Numerals Is Different in Windows XP Than It Is in Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=319827&FR=1

318872 - Windows Explorer Incorrectly Sorts Files and Folders with 10 or More Consecutive Numerals

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318872&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

177482 - Start Menu and Favorites Menu Are Not Listed in Alphabetical Order

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;177482&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[cycledick]

I did the regedit for support code 319827 (319827 - The Sort Order for Files and Folders Whose Names Contain Numerals Is Different in Windows XP Than It Is in Windows 2000). That didn't do anything. In fact, I couldn't do the one for the "local machine" because there was no key for "explorer" in "policies". So, I dunno. Unless anyone else has any ideas, I guess I'm stuck sorting it.

Thanks for the help anyways!

 

[guitarzan]

Weird... I never noticed it before, but my Network Connections behaves just as you say.

However, if I go to View > Arrange Icons By and un-check "Show in Groups", it seems to sort everything correctly.

 

[SirBlack]

porty,
When you click on View, select Choose details in the dropdown menu. It will display all options selected as well as other options to sort by. To the right of that column are 4 buttons: Move up, down, Show & Hide. Highlite the 1 you don't want & click Hide.

Bob B-)

 

[cycledick]

Ya, I've noticed the "Show in Groups" thing, but I like the way it sorts them in to the letters of the alphabet, it's makes it easier to zero in on the one I'm looking for. I guess I can't have it both ways, huh?

 

[linney]

If a Registry Key doesn't exist you could try creating it by using the right-click and New (Key) menu, and then in the New key use the same procedure to create a Value.

Launch RegEdit and use the Help program as it is your best source of information about RegEdit.
These following links take the subject a bit further too.

310516 - How To Add, Modify, or Delete Registry Subkeys and Values by Using a Registration Entries (.reg) File

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310516&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310426 - How To Use the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Registry Editor Features

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310426&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Registry Backup and Restore for Windows NT/2000/XP

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/