Placing items in ABC order in Text file?

[mikehende]

I exported the contents of my Media Library in my music software to a text file which has approx 600 entries, is there any way I can have them rearranged in Alphabetical order?

[PeteF]

I exported the contents of my Media Library in my music software to a text file which has approx 600 entries, is there any way I can have them rearranged in Alphabetical order?

If you have MS Word, or MS Excel you can have them sort it.

Easy way is to use MS Word.
Table -> Sort
Work with the options given.

---pete---

[mikehende]

Thanks Pete but this works only if I create a table [as far as I can tell] and if I have to do so then I may as well edit all 600 entries in my Music Library then print in ABC order, if there is a way to create a table without myself having to do the typing and just by importing the text file into a table then this should work, ideas?

[kelly]

In Word, you don't have to create a table to sort. Word will sort paragraphs. So just make sure there's a return after each entry. To check this, set the Hide/Show non printing characters option to 'Show'. This option is typically in the standard toolbar, however, it may be hidden if you haven't used it for a while. Check under Help for Hide Show non-printing characters to see how to set this in your particular version.
-td

[Terry Hanushek]

Mike

It is a bit difficult to suggest a solution without knowing the data content of your text file. My presumption is that each entry is on its own line and has one (or more) fields. Are there multiple fields for each entry? Is there some sort of delimiter e.g. comma between the fields?

One immediate thought that comes to mind is using Word. Open your text file with Word, pull down the Table tab on the menu bar and select Convert | Text to Table

Another thought is to open the file with Excel, pull down the Data tab and select Text to Columns

I have not used either of these methods so I am not sure of the nuances. Many times you have to experiment to get the right sequence.

Terry

[mikehende]

Oh, very sorry guys, I should have included the text file here, please take a look and advise me, BTW, we only have the older version of MSword.

[PeteF]

In Word, you don't have to create a table to sort. Word will sort paragraphs. So just make sure there's a return after each entry. To check this, set the Hide/Show non printing characters option to 'Show'. This option is typically in the standard toolbar, however, it may be hidden if you haven't used it for a while. Check under Help for Hide Show non-printing characters to see how to set this in your particular version.
-td

td is correct!
I tested it before I posted my suggestion.

---pete---

[mikehende]

Yes, it works! Appreciate the help, guys.

[Terry Hanushek]

Mike

Using Word 2000

Since the artist and the song are separated by a dash, a quick way to create a table is to Find Replace all (dash) with (comma) creating a two element, comma-delimited file. Then you can create a table by using the Table | Convert | Text to Table option to create your table.

There are a couple of data related problems. There are about ten artists in last name (comma) first name format e,g Vinton, Bobby. These can be cleaned up manually before making the data. There are also a couple lines with multiple dashes which can be manually cleaned up.

Extra credit: If you wanted to make a third column of the song duration, Find / Replace all "(" with ",(" (removing the double quotes).

Terry

[mikehende]

Appreciate the tips, will come in handy, thanks.