files-community / files-community/Files

Feature: Use date in file name for sorting

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#11,331 3 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
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C#
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Description

### What feature or improvement do you think would benefit Files?

Add a function that automatically (if the user selects it in the settings) recognises the date in the name of a file and sorts it accordingly.
So the files would no longer be sorted like this:

```
movie _ DD.MM.JJJJ
movie _ 01.06.2022
movie _ 01.07.2021
movie _ 02.01.2019
movie _ 12.05.2014
movie _ 13.02.2023
movie _ 14.01.2023
```

but like this:

```
movie _ DD.MM.JJJJ
movie _ 12.05.2014
movie _ 02.01.2019
movie _ 01.07.2021
movie _ 01.06.2022
movie _ 14.01.2023
movie _ 13.02.2023
```

The app would have to be based on the system region, or let the user select a date format.
Like for example :
1. `DD.MM.JJJJ`
2. `MM.DD.JJJJ`
3. `DD-MM-JJJJ`
4. `MM-DD-JJJJ`

### Requirements

This would greatly increase readability, as until now a date has always had to be entered in the format ``YYYY.MM.DD``, which is not so easy to read.
The date when a file was created or last modified is not always meaningful.

### Files Version

2.4.33

### Windows Version

Windows 11

### Comments

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by locating the existing file-sorting and settings entry points; the issue does not name specific files or tests. Review how sorting options and regional date formats are handled. Done means an opt-in setting recognizes the selected date format in filenames and orders matching files chronologically.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
csharp
Domain
desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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