Directories are ordered the same as files (mixed in)

[ubergeeknz]

Normally in Windows Explorer, when you sort by name, Directories automatically show at the top (A-Z) or bottom (Z-A) however in a Swish folder they are mixed up with the files.

[alamaison]

At the moment, I list the files in exactly the order the server returns them in. As most servers are Unix and Unices tend to list files and folders intermixed, that's how they appear in Swish.

If people in general would prefer that Swish force the standard Windows listing order, I will change this.

Opinions?

[ubergeeknz]

Agreed that this is more about the way the target returns the directory, being a *nix environment we get the typical *nix pragmatic "everything is a file".

However, this is being displayed in a Windows environment and so the user is expecting a Windows-like experience. (I note that WinSCP does windows-style ordering, as does Filezilla and most other FTP/SFTP clients in Windows).

A flexible solution would be to have an option, "Windows-style ordering" or similar, to allow users a choice (it should be on by default, though).

[anonymous]

All the unices I have sorts the directories first, and then the files.

[ubergeeknz]

Replying to anonymous:

All the unices I have sorts the directories first, and then the files.

Ah, such are the joys of the many splendid flavours of unix-like systems.

I know this; when I shell in and execute "ls" on my debian box(es), I get files and directories all spewed out onto the screen at once (but in pretty colours). And if I FTP into them and do an ls I get the very same (just without the pretty colours).

It follows that the SFTP protocol returns the same result; therefore it is what Swish displays (currently). I could probably alter this behaviour, since they're my boxes, but this is not always possible. Just sayin'.

[mkaand@gmail.com]

I aggree to. I have same problem. Can you fix this ?

[alamaison]

* Ticket #116 marked duplicate of this one *

[piro@pirocast.net]

The first thing I noticed after installing swish and setting up a connection was the strange sort order. As a *nix admin myself, I'm aware of how *nixeses order files/folders.

That said, I am also of the opinion that, as I am browsing the files in the most Windows-like way imaginable (directly from Explorer), it would make sense to me for the presentation to be exactly as Explorer normally displays files, which is folders-first.

An toggle option somewhere would likely be the best solution.

[klonos@gmail.com]

I'd like to have Windows-like sorting since this a Windows environment and all too. If others prefer it else, then an option to toggle this would be great.

An easy way to provide this option in the UI would be a radio box toggle in the new connection dialog, but we definitely need a way to provide a global setting for this too.

PS: I'm about to file some other tickets if they don't already exist as feature requests/bugs (concerning character set & codepage for filenames/directories and respecting the Windows Explorer option for display - such as tiles/list/details etc). These call for a means to provide global options for the application too, so perhaps we should consider a UI or control panel that will host all these options widgets.

[alamaison]

Not a single person has spoken up in favour of the current sort order so I'm just going to change it to put directories first. No options. Options  are a cop-out anyway.

[anonymous]

This is great news for all us accustomed to the Windows ways ;)

...though computers and software are not as simple as toasters and what they do is not as simple as heating bread slices.

[alamaison]

Replying to anonymous:

...though computers and software are not as simple as toasters and what they do is not as simple as heating bread slices.

Isn't that the point? They should be. Ok toaster may be a bad example but televisions and washing machines do complicated things but my mum can operate both.