How do I sort a list of files?

One of IIS' great built-in tools is FileSystemObject. Unfortunately, there is no native way to produce a file listing in the order you specify. For example, consider the following code snippet:

<%
folder = "C:\"

set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.fileSystemObject")
set fold = fso.getFolder(folder)
for each file in fold.files
response.write file.name & "<br>"
next
set fold = nothing: set fso = nothing
%>

This produces a list of files in seemingly random order. It is not ordered by name, file size, type, date modified, date accessed, archive, read-only, system, hidden, super hidden...

Here are three ways you can order your files alphabetically; the first uses a VBScript sort routine, the second uses a JScript sort routine, and the third uses a database.

Here is the VBScript version (thanks for the help with this, Luke Magnus):

<%
folder = "C:\"

set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.fileSystemObject")
set fold = fso.getFolder(folder)
fileCount = fold.files.count
dim fNames()
redim fNames(fileCount)
cFcount = 0
for each file in fold.files
cFcount = cFcount + 1
fNames(cFcount) = lcase(file.name)
next
for tName = 1 to fileCount
for nName = (tName + 1) to fileCount
if strComp(fNames(tName),fNames(nName),0)=1 then
buffer = fNames(nName)
fNames(nName) = fNames(tName)
fNames(tName) = buffer
end if
next
next
for i = 1 to fileCount
content = content & fNames(i) & "<br>"
next
Response.Write content
%>

Here is the JScript sort version:

And here is the database version (you'll want to create a simple table, called fileTable, with a filename column, varchar(255)):

<%
set conn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
conn.open "<connection string>"
set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
set fold = fso.getFolder("c:\")
for each file in fold.files
sql = sql & "INSERT INTO fileTable(filename)"
sql = sql & " VALUES('" & file.name & "'); "
next
conn.execute(sql)
sql = "SELECT filename FROM fileTable ORDER BY filename"
set rs = conn.execute(sql)
do while not rs.eof
filename = rs("filename")
if left(filename,5) = "D0101" then
fileURL = server.urlEncode(filename)
response.write("<a href='Documents/" & fileURL
response.write("'>" & filename & "</a><br>")
end if
rs.movenext
loop
rs.close: set rs = nothing
conn.execute("DELETE FROM fileTable")
conn.close: set conn = nothing
%>

The bonus with the database version is that you can insert other elements (such as extension or DateLastModified), and order in different ways (file type; creation date, ascending or descending; reverse alphabetical; etc...). A slightly more efficient way to generate a list of files ordered in whatever way you like would be to use a recordset opened as adOpenDynamic:

<%
CONST adFldIsNullable = &H00000020
CONST adVarChar = 200
CONST adDate = 7
CONST adOpenDynamic = 2
CONST adUseClient = 3

response.write "<table border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0" & _
" bordercolor=#CCCCCC style='font:8pt tahoma'>"

set fso = CreateObject("scripting.filesystemobject")
set folder = fso.getFolder("C:\")

if folder.files.count > 0 then
Set rs = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")

With rs
.CursorLocation = adUseClient
.CursorType = adOpenDynamic
.Fields.Append "filename", adVarChar, 255, adFldIsNullable
.Fields.Append "filemod", adDate, 32, adFldIsNullable
.open

for each file in folder.Files
.AddNew
.Fields("filename") = file.Name
.Fields("filemod") = file.dateLastModified
.update
next

' list oldest first

.Sort = "filemod ASC"
.MoveFirst
response.write "<tr><th colspan=2 bgcolor=#CCCCCC>" & _
.sort & "</th></tr>" & _
"<tr bgcolor=#EFEFEF><th>Name</th>" & _
"<th>Modified</th></tr>"
do while not .eof
Response.Write "<tr><td>" & .Fields(0) & "</td>" & _
"<td>" & .Fields(1) & "</td></tr>"
.Movenext
loop

' list newest first

.Sort = "filemod DESC"
.MoveFirst
response.write "<tr><th colspan=2 bgcolor=#CCCCCC>" & _
.sort & "</th></tr>" & _
"<tr bgcolor=#EFEFEF><th>Name</th>" & _
"<th>Modified</th></tr>"
do while not .eof
Response.Write "<tr><td>" & .Fields(0) & "</td>" & _
"<td>" & .Fields(1) & "</td></tr>"
.Movenext
loop

' list alphabetically

.Sort = "filename ASC"
.MoveFirst
response.write "<tr><th colspan=2 bgcolor=#CCCCCC>" & _
.sort & "</th></tr>" & _
"<tr bgcolor=#EFEFEF><th>Name</th>" & _
"<th>Modified</th></tr>"
do while not .eof
Response.Write "<tr><td>" & .Fields(0) & "</td>" & _
"<td>" & .Fields(1) & "</td></tr>"
.Movenext
loop

.close
end with
response.write "</table>"
set rs = nothing
end if
set folder = nothing
set fso = nothing
%>



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How do I sort a list of files?

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