🚀 go-pugleaf

> The problem concerns the viewing of files in a heavily
> populated folder. Having chosen the optimal sort criterion
> for the View for that folder (that is, by date or by name or
> by size or whatever, from the Finder's View menu), I prefer
> to have the files presented to me in Icon format but
> retaining the sequence dictated by the selected View method.
> (To make that clearer: I wanted to have all my MacPaint files,
> for instance, listed by Icon and presented in alphabetical
> order from left to right, starting with the A's at the top and
> the Z's at the bottom.)
>  
> Here's how you do it: Select the View criterion you want the
> icons to follow. Say you choose By Date. All the files are
> now presented in Date order, names only, without their associated
> icons. Now Select All, and drag all the files onto the Desktop.
> Now, select the icon presentation you want: by Small Icon or
> by Icon. Re-size the window to make room for the icon layout you
> want: eg, three abreast. Now choose Put Away from the File menu
> and watch as Finder neatly picks up the files from the desktop,
> one by one, and restores them to the window in icon format,
> RETAINING your selected View sequence!

Actually, it's easier than that.  If the disk or folder on which the
items are located is visible, just drag them straight there, then 
choose the new view.  No need for an intermediate stop on the Desktop,
nor use of "Put Away."