Organizing desktop icons alphabetically?

[whitehuw]

Hi,

I want to organize my macbook's desktop items alphabetically, in columns, with A in top left down to Z in bottom right.

When I click Desktop - Show View Options - Keep Arranged By Name

it arranges things alphabetically but in a completely illogical way, starting with A at the right side of the screen and moving backwards through the alphabet as it spread left. I've tried all the view options I can see and can't find the solution.

Does anybody know how to resolve this?

Thanks,
Huw

 

[bobtomay]

Short answer - it is not possible.

OS X puts all desktop icons on the right
Windows puts all desktop icons on the left
Neither one of them provide a way to change this default action.

You can set arrangement to none, then drag and drop them any where you want - but any new icons will show up on the right side.

After you get use to it, it's makes sense. Most of the time you'll want the active app on the left side of the screen since it's menu is there on the menu bar. With the window sized appropriately, this gives easy access to it's menu, plus a view of your desktop icons on the right of the window instead of behind it as usually is the case in that other OS.

 

[iPod Nano]

I don't suppose that this is a feature of Snow Leopard is it? Customized Desktop View, I mean. You really should be able to have your desktop the way you want it.

 

[cwa107]

NOTE: Thread moved to appropriate forum. Not just anything goes in Anything Goes

 

[toMACsh]

I want to organize my macbook's desktop items alphabetically, in columns, with A in top left down to Z in bottom right.

Go right ahead. But, instead of setting the arrangement to None, I'd suggest Snap to Grid. That will allow you to line them up neatly more easily.

 

[Eric559]

You really should be able to have your desktop the way you want it.

You can. No one is stopping you from having the desktop how you want it. There just isn't a magic button to automatically organize the desktop like you want it to be.