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To sort audio lengths use "Property" not "Special Property"

Posted: 15 Jun 2020 21:16
by Malarki
I have a bunch of MP3 files in a folder. In that list pane I right-click on the column bar and select "Add Column". That creates a new one called "Undefined". Then via right-click I can assign it using either "Select Property" or "Select Special Property".

If I choose "Select Special Property | Length", the audio playtime length shows in mm:ss.ddd - and the column will not sort properly.

If I choose "Select Property | Length", the audio playtime length shows in hh:mm:ss - and the column sorts as expected.

Posting this because the Special Property behavior may be a bug (though I understand that special is special); but primarily to help others since the only info I found in the forum pointed to using the Special Property and it took some time to discover the better solution.

Re: To sort audio lengths use "Property" not "Special Property"

Posted: 15 Jun 2020 21:22
by highend
If I choose "Select Special Property | Length", the audio playtime length shows in mm:ss.ddd - and the column will not sort properly.
On what, files with a playtime over <xx> minutes?

Re: To sort audio lengths use "Property" not "Special Property"

Posted: 15 Jun 2020 23:39
by Malarki
On MP3 tracks with playtimes between 1 and 6 minutes.

Re: To sort audio lengths use "Property" not "Special Property"

Posted: 16 Jun 2020 00:06
by Malarki
Wait, more info... seems like the issue with Special Properties | Length only happens at folder changes within Branch View, and not always then.

The first clip below shows the problem, using a Special Properties | Length column.
The second clip shows the regular Properties | Length results.
(Note that thaving both columns defined at the same time can confuse the results because the non-Special will sort, then Special fails to sort BUT the results look OK from the previous step.)
branch view sort on special length.jpg
branch view sort on special length.jpg (338.93 KiB) Viewed 861 times
branch view sort on non-special length.jpg
branch view sort on non-special length.jpg (352.92 KiB) Viewed 861 times