Sharepoint folder - numerical order?

Question

Why is it impossible to have a Sharepoint folder list items in numerical order? I am trying to upload multiple chapters of a single manual that ties into a printed version with numerical chapter headings. Microsoft Windows folders order them exactly how I want, 1 to 28, with files named "1st chapter" etc. Sharepoint, however, insists that 10 is the first chapter, then goes to 19, then 1, then 20 to 28, then 2 to 9...,I have seen other people on here try to ask the same question, and be given either far too complex answers or told it is impossible to do. Why? If Windows can do it, why not Sharepoint?

Answer 1

Hi Johnson GR,

Good days! Thanks for querying in this forum.

From your description, it seems that you want SharePoint library to sort the uploaded files by Name column in numerical order.

If my understanding above is right, for now there is no out of box way to sort files in SharePoint library or the folder by the Name column in numeric order. The Name field is set to Text fields by default, thus, the Name field will always sort alphabetically, you can only sort number fields in numerical order.

As our product developers are willing to hear the users' suggestions, I kindly suggest you submit your feedback on the Feedback platform to our product developers so that they can know your requirements and ideas for product improvements.

We’d also suggest you create another column that just contains the number and sort on that. You should be able to keep it hidden and still sort on it in the view settings as a workaround as showed below.

Step 1: Create a new number column field

Step 2: Set name and description

You can also set the column to required column in case you forget to add the value for sorting.

Step 3. Enter the value and create view to sort the library by the number field in numerical order.

Step 4. Edit the view, you can hide the newly created column, and sort by the column as showed below.

Save the settings, and then the folder will show the files accordingly in numerical order

Thanks for your understanding and have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Rhoda | Microsoft Community Moderator