OS X Lion new Finder view that doesn't allow sorting

17

4

In OS X, from Lion onwards, when I click on some of my folders in Finder and the title row of the files contains the usual stuff like "Date Modified" and "Size". However unlike the old Finder view I can't click on them to sort. Why is that and how do I make it never show up ever again?

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justinhj

Posted 2011-09-25T02:15:29.760

Reputation: 1 162

Answers

30

Make sure "None" is selected in the sorting options menu - else you have the behavior you described.

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Vervious

Posted 2011-09-25T02:15:29.760

Reputation: 4 654

4Found this confusing, too. "Arrange by" and "sort by" are almost synonymous -- it feels broken when they're actually mutually exclusive states. – emcmanus – 2012-05-10T03:44:09.213

It's awful. I created a new folder that was sortable just fine. I then created a subfolder that had this "feature". – Old McStopher – 2012-09-18T22:44:32.333

Damn Apple. I write programs that can sort within grouping, why can't they?!? "It just works?" Hardly. Anyway, thanks @Vervious for the answer to my Apple-induced frustration for the day. +1 – MikeSchinkel – 2013-04-11T22:11:33.063

3

Check out In OS X Lion, Finder will not "Arrange..." from Apple Support Communities.

You'll find how to solve that problem:

There seem to be a few glitches in the Arrange/sort model. You can actually Arrange by and Sort By separately. You can get to the Sort options by holding down the Option key while selecting the Arrangement button.

However, there aren't any sort options when you Arrange by Name. And it doesn't change the sort by option when you switch to Arrange by Name.

Try setting the Arrange by to None. Then, hold down the option key and press the Arrange button. What is it sorted by?

Aveef

Posted 2011-09-25T02:15:29.760

Reputation: 31