Have never seen this problem. Take a look at the attached pic.
If I just use the song names, BIAB automatically sorts my song list in alpha order (a,b,c,d,e..etc)...no problem there.
But, if I add numbers so the song names, so the songs are arranged in the order that I want to play them, BIAB will not sort them in numeric order (1,2,3,4...etc). It sorts them as 1,11,12,13,14....2,21, 22, 23 etc.
Things I tried to fix this: 1. RTFS - no effect 2. Turned off "Enable Sorting of Song List" in the Song Picker options 3. Closed and restarted BIAB 4. Have added and removed the numbers several times 5. Have made up a completely new list with alpha sorting. The new alpha sorts fine by alpha. 6. Took the new alpha list and added numbers. This list will only sort like in the picture.
Pretty sure this has to do with Windows 10's new sort order. You can change this in the group policies of Windows. Numerical sorting in File Explorer is enabled by default in Windows 10. When numerical sorting is enabled, File Explorer will sort file names by increasing number value (for example, 3 < 22 < 111). When numerical sorting is disabled, File Explorer will sort file names by each digit in a file name (for example, 111 < 22 < 3).
I have a German Windows installation, but you can easily find instructions on the web for the US version to change this behavior. Just google "Windows 10 explorer sort alphanumerical".
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
Jeff, the data is not sorted in numerical order, but is sorted in ASCII format. This is the way computers store character values like ABC...abc...xyz /-=? {} etc, which are not treated the same as integer values 0 to 9.
In ASCII, a <space> character (ASCII 32) has a lower representative value than a zero character (ASCII 48) and a '2' is ASCII 50, so the two-character sequence of '2' <space> is computed as being lower in value than the character sequence of '2' '0' because a <space> (32) is represented as a lower value than a '2' (50).
If you require, a workaround is to use alphabetic characters instead of numbers, something like this: AA - Everybody's somebody's fool AB - Always on my mind AC - Are You Lonesome tonight AD - By the time I get to phoenix ... BA - On The Road Again BB - Proud Mary ... etc
This way, the leading two characters would guarantee an alphabetical sort order.
If other Windows sort methods don't work when used inside BiaB (they possibly won't), then this may help (well, at least I tried).
Trev
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
FYI - here is how I do it with other lists: 1-if your list goes into double digits I use 01, 02, etc so the sort will be in the correct order. 2-if your list goes into triple digits I use 001 , 002, etc. 3- and on and on
In other words you must add the right amount of zeros for the list to list correctly. This ties into what Trev said.
{Edit} - I should have added that I list BiaB songs alphabetically.
Last edited by MarioD; 08/14/2205:47 AM.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
What's the matter with me? (It must be late here) Just start each name with a suitable number sequence: 001 - 002 - 003 - 004 - 005 - ... 009 - 010 - 011 - 012 - ... 020 - 021 - 022 - etc.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Thanks Mario. I see you responded. Yep, that's the way.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Yes that may be true however to ask someone with little or no in depth Windows' experience to go into the registry is a very dangerous thing. The multi-digit numbering system is probably the safest way for many of us to use. Tedious yes but also safer.
In Moutainside's case all he has to do is put one or more zeros in from of the numbers 1-9 depending on how many songs he already has or how many he anticipates adding to the list. The worst case is if he puts one zero in front of 1-9, then goes into the 100's or more all he has to do is to add the appreciate amount of zeros in from of 1-9.
Note I have been in the registry but I always make a registry backup prior to doing anything. I am a strong believer of making registry backups.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
FWIW, I'd probably handle a renumbering exercise like that by making a script to do it.
I can only half help on how as I do these things in Linux, not windows, but I would list all of the filenames into a file, one per line, duplicate all the lines as "existing file name" <tab> "existing file name", then change all the instances of <tab>[1-9] to <tab>0[1-9], hack the last few manually and change the start of each line to mv<tab> which IIRC would be ren<tab> in windows, then test and run the script.
The gotcha in this is always filenames that contain special characters that the script or shell interprets, e.g., ' " and the like. Caveat emptor.
A simpler way still might be to list only 1-something files first and rename them, then do 10...99-something files as a second exercise.
IIRC there is some clever(ish?) rename trick in Windows, but I'm afraid I don't know it. Someone else may have the method.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
I suspect Band in a Box uses Windows system functions for sorting,
Hmmm... I'm not sure about this. Somebody from PG Music would need to advise. PGM?
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I just renamed the files as 01, 02, 03, 04...10, 11,12...31,32,33 etc. Adding the "0" as the first digit in the single digit numbers. Rebuilt the Song Picker file and bingo...all sorted in the order I play the songs.
Learn something every day....especially the power of these forums!
I'll make this one as resolved in case somebody else has a similar problem.
If you're likely to create more files in the scheme, it may well be worth adopting a three-or-more digit numbering system now and sticking with it, so you don't in the future end up adding leading zeros to hundred(s) of files.
Edit: Incidentally, when I'm building playlists for a gig, I create songs called, e.g., "012-Interval.???" and "021-pre-encore.???".
Last edited by Gordon Scott; 08/15/2203:11 AM.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Fantastic Jeff. Thanks for letting us know it worked out OK, and thanks for marking the thread as resolved.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
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