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I have Mac OS 10.7.4 and I'd like Finder to use "Is Folder?" as its first sort criteria, or in other words, group folders before files regardless of the sorting method.

Windows and Linux both do this by default.

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Wow, the title on that linked question was less than useful before it was edited. – Neil Jun 26 '12 at 15:47
Let's keep both - as you can see - people use different words for the same idea so having a few good examples, worded differently will help everyone find their solution. Linking them is great in case another answer is better. I also agree the subsequent edits have helped immensely. – bmike♦ Jun 26 '12 at 15:53
Is the question as per title - put folders together (easy but apps come first) or as per question put folders first? – Mark Nov 22 '12 at 11:49

3 Answers

up vote -1 down vote

In the Finder: View Menu -> Arrange -> By Kind

In Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8): View menu -> Sort By -> Kind
(Or use the Finder's shortcut keystroke Command-Option-Control-2)
The view includes very nice headings within the listing to introduce each kind of item.

However if you're hoping to also then sub-sort by some other criterion then you're out of luck, I think.

This option has certainly existed for a long time, even back to MacOS days pre OS X, but I can't now remember whether it grouped folders at the top or bottom of the listing.

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This will override the sorting method, and not use "Is Folder?" as the first out of several sort criteria. – Neil Jun 26 '12 at 15:46
Probably better to note that it comes from NeXT days rather than MacOS - and I think folders were first – Mark Nov 22 '12 at 11:40
up vote 2 down vote

Because Finder just doesn't have a "group the folders" at the top/bottom there are legions of Mac users that put all sorts of characters in their folder names so that they sort above or below when sorted by name.

There are all sorts of hacky ways to manipulate the "kind" strings internally, but then everything is arranged by kind first, and secondarily alphabetically.

If this is a deal breaker - check out the many apps that run in place of the Finder. Here is a query to get you started:

http://apple.stackexchange.com/search?q=finder+replacement

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up vote 0 down vote

XtraFinder is free and can do this, by selecting "Arrange Folders on Top" in the Preferences.

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