[TUT] UPDATED Alphabetically order games in XMB

Published on 01-07-2012 03:37 PM

31 Comments

PSX-Scene user BahumatLord has worked out a way to bypass the XMB's default sorting methods for games and allow PSN content to be ordered alphabetically, which does make a lot of sense. This process involves editing some core files within the system and is not recommended for novices.

The following from BahumatLord:

I've always thought that one of the biggest failings in the way that the ps3 handles content is the fact that you can't sort items alphabetically. With the advent of Team Duplex releases and ReActPSN there are hundreds of available PSN titles. I have found a method for sorting your items alphabetically so you can find what you're looking for instead of sifting through dozens or even hundreds of other titles.

Warning: make a backup of your original file before modifying. I will also include 2 copies of this file so others can see what I've done. I highly suggest that you edit your own file. Using the one that I provide may cause unintended results and has only been tested on 2 consoles.

If your account is the first one on the ps3 then in the folder dev_hdd0/home/00000001/etc is a file called explore_view.txt
If your account is not the first one, then just find the corresponding 0000000? in your home folder and use that instead of 00000001
Open that file with a text editor and search for the following string (Note: the search string is one continuous line):

Code:

&root.sort_selected.game_format=sort_game.time_created_descend&root.sort_selected.game_tags=sort_game.time_created_ascend&root.sort_selected.game_all=sort_game.time_created_descend

Replace with

Code:

&root.sort_selected.game_format=sort_game.title_descend&root.sort_selected.game_tags=sort_game.title_ascend&root.sort_selected.game_all=sort_game.title_descend

Restart your PS3
You're going to have to assign each game into a category. Some suggested ones are PSX, PSN, minis, NEOGEO OR Action, Adventure, RPG, Puzzle, etc but feel free to use any name that you wish. After assigning each item into a category and hitting your SQUARE button until you get into category view, when you go into your previously created categories your list will be sorted ALPHABETICALLY!!! See Sony - it wasn't that hard

Also it should be noted that if you wish to further edit this file you can do the same for your photos, videos, music, savedata, game data and trophies but I didn't have a use for that so I kept it simple with only modifying the game list. The key is to replace the "time_created" string with "title"

Here are the files from my PS3.
Again if you decide to use mine instead of editing your own file then you are doing so at your own risk!! There is a possibility of stability issues when using other user created files

This is my original unmodified file:
Download: original explore_view.txt

This is the corrected file:
Download: explore_view.txt

UPDATE BuhumatLord has some further information he wished to add to the article.

I've gotten great feedback from you guys out there about sorting your psn content. I didn't include the other categories because I didn't need them, but you guys have been so great, I thought I'd update my guide to give you more options

The following are just the set ups for your categories and should not be modified unless you know exactly what you're doing:

Code:

Code:
root.view_selected.photo=view_photo.month
&root.view_selected.music=view_music.album
&root.view_selected.video=view_video.all
&root.view_selected.vmc=view_vmc.all
&root.view_selected.savedata_ps2=view_savedata_ps2.all
&root.view_selected.savedata_ps3=view_savedata_ps3.all
&root.view_selected.game=view_game.tags
&root.view_selected.friend=view_friend.all
&root.view_selected.trophy_title=view_trophy_title.all
&root.view_selected.trophy=view_trophy.all
&root.view_selected.trophy_ex=view_trophy_ex.all
&root.view_selected.friendtrophy_title=view_friendtrophy_title.all
&root.view_selected.friendtrophy=view_friendtrophy.all
&root.view_selected.savedata_psp=view_savedata_psp.all
These are the search strings for your photos:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.photo_month=sort_photo.time_created_ascend
&root.sort_selected.photo_year=sort_photo.time_created_ascend
&root.sort_selected.photo_album=sort_photo.time_created_ascend
&root.sort_selected.photo_all=sort_photo.time_created_ascend
These are the search strings for your music:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.music_album=sort_music.track_number_ascend
&root.sort_selected.music_artist=sort_music.list_title_ascend
&root.sort_selected.music_genre=sort_music.player_ascend
&root.sort_selected.music_track_initial=sort_music.title_ascend
&root.sort_selected.music_year=sort_music.player_ascend
&root.sort_selected.music_all=sort_music.player_ascend
These are the search strings for your videos:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.video_title_initial=sort_video.title_ascend
&root.sort_selected.video_imported_month=sort_video.time_imported_descend
&root.sort_selected.video_album=sort_video.time_imported_descend
&root.sort_selected.video_all=sort_video.time_imported_descend
This is the search string for your Virtual Memory Cards (PS1):

Code:
&root.sort_selected.vmc_all=sort_vmc.time_created_descend
This is the search string for your PS2 Save Data:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.savedata_ps2_all=sort_savedata_ps2.time_modified_descend
These are the search strings for your PS3 Save Data:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.savedata_ps3_title=sort_savedata_ps3.time_modified_descend
&root.sort_selected.savedata_ps3_all=sort_savedata_ps3.time_modified_descend
These are the search strings for your PSN games (already discussed):

Code:
&root.sort_selected.game_format=sort_game.time_created_descend
&root.sort_selected.game_tags=sort_game.time_created_ascend
&root.sort_selected.game_all=sort_game.time_created_descend
This is the string for your friend list:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.friend_all=sort_friend.presence_descend
These are the strings for your trophy collection:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.trophy_title_all=sort_trophy_title.time_last_updated_descend
&root.sort_selected.trophy_group=sort_trophy_group.default
&root.sort_selected.trophy_all=sort_trophy.default
These are the strings for your friend's trophy lists:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.friendtrophy_title_all=sort_friendtrophy_title.all
&root.sort_selected.friendtrophy_all=sort_friendtrophy.all
&root.sort_selected.friendtrophy_group_all=sort_friendtrophy_group.all
These are the strings for your PSP Save Data:

Code:
&root.sort_selected.savedata_psp_title=sort_savedata_psp.time_modified_descend
&root.sort_selected.savedata_psp_all=sort_savedata_psp.time_modified_descend
These are more strings for your photos (sorted by month/year):

Code:
&root.view_sort_selected.photo_month=sort_photo_month.list_title_ascend
&root.view_sort_selected.photo_year=sort_photo_year.list_title_ascend
These are more strings for your music (sorted by albums):

Code:
&root.view_sort_selected.music_album=sort_music_album.list_title_ascend
&root.view_sort_selected.music_year=sort_music_year.list_title_descend
This appears to be the string for your active friend list on PSN (unneeded unless you've managed to get back on PSN)

Code:
&xs_root.sort_selected.friend_presence=sort_friend.title_ascend_only

If you wish to modify any other category, look for the last "." in each string and modify the characters afterwards all the way to the end of the string.Known values include (but not limited to - I'm open to input from others):

all
default
list_title_ascend
list_title_ascend_only
list_title_descend
list_title_descend_only
player_ascend
player_ascend_only
player_descend
player_descend_only
presence_ascend
presence_ascend_only
presence_descend
presence_descend_only
time_created_ascend
time_created_ascend_only
time_created_descend
time_created_descend_only
time_last_updated_ascend
time_last_updated_ascend_only
time_last_updated_descend
time_last_updated_descend_only
time_modified_ascend
time_modified_ascend_only
time_modified_descend
time_modified_descend_only
title
title_ascend
title_ascend_only
title_descend
title_descend_only
track_number_ascend
track_number_ascend_only
track_number_descend
track_number_descend_only

Please don't modify your file if you don't understand what you're doing and what the results will be ahead of time. This is a system file and should be backed up before modifying it just in case you need to restore it. Also use a little common sense when applying changes. For example don't use track_number_ascend (designed for music) on your trophy list. If you do you will probably get negative results.

I'd like to take a moment to thank Jay-Jay for taking a look at this and giving suggestions. I hope this is useful to you guys out there.

BahumatLord.

[You can VOTE FOR THE ENTRY, in PSX-Scene's Monthly Contest]

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bigby, Tacappa, Jay-Jay and 19 others like this.

Categories:

_{Tags :

bahumatlord xmb sort,

easy,

psn game sort,

xmb sorting}

31 Comments

Jay-Jay - 01-06-2012, 12:03 PM
- Reply
This has been a great tweak. For as long as I can remember, I hated that we could not alphabetize the contents inside the album folders under the game XMB column. Great job! You got my vote!!!

DSAPSX - 01-06-2012, 12:30 PM
- Reply
I agree with Jay-Jay. Nicely done BahumatLord

mdmyzery - 01-06-2012, 12:39 PM
- Reply
I cant get it t work I edited the file to the tee and i restarted my system. My games are already in albums like PSN,PS1. Am i missing something?

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 12:50 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by mdmyzery

I cant get it t work I edited the file to the tee and i restarted my system. My games are already in albums like PSN,PS1. Am i missing something?

It is possible that you may need to rename your existing folders. You don't have to rename each individual game, but if you for example rename a folder called "Action" that has 40 titles in it to "Temp", and then rename back to "Action" it should correct the problem. Are you editing the correct user account file? Did you reset after moddifying the file?

Edit: I've become aware that some people may not be able to download the links I provided above. This is a zip file containing both files previously listed. I can't stress this enough - Please modify your own file, but if you need to here is a working file
Attachment 32452

Edit 2: The ps3 has a display mode that sorts titles into Playstation 3/Playstation/NeoGeo/minis. This is not the correct view for this to work. Hit square in your xmb to verify you're in the correct view mode. You have to manually categorize each item

bigby - 01-06-2012, 01:05 PM
- Reply
Thanks! Now I have my PSone games in alphabetical order!

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 01:09 PM
- Reply
I've also become aware of a character limit in Windows' notepad and wordpad searches. You may have to use a better text editor or split the search and replace in sections. There are 3 strings that you need to replace
Code:

&root.sort_selected.game_format=sort_game.time_created_descend &root.sort_selected.game_tags=sort_game.time_created_ascend &root.sort_selected.game_all=sort_game.time_created_descend
replace with
Code:

&root.sort_selected.game_format=sort_game.title_descend &root.sort_selected.game_tags=sort_game.title_ascend &root.sort_selected.game_all=sort_game.title_descend

mdmyzery - 01-06-2012, 01:47 PM
- Reply
Your file worked! Thank you soooo much This is great. Lazy Sony.

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 01:51 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by mdmyzery

Your file worked! Thank you soooo much This is great. Lazy Sony.

Good to hear. I wasn't entirely sure my file would be safe to use on someone else's console. I'm not a rich man and only have one to try things with. I usually defend Sony, but you're right on this one

whitedove - 01-06-2012, 02:06 PM
- Reply
at last i been asking sony to do this for about a year and half and fix my wipout hd that proves it to me that modder devs are better than sony devs modded is the way to go nice one

ANDEEZY - 01-06-2012, 02:42 PM
- Reply
This tweak is good but I always hoped for a tweak where you could manualllu move whichever file you want in any order...but nonetheless, great tweak!

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 03:05 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by ANDEEZY

This tweak is good but I always hoped for a tweak where you could manualllu move whichever file you want in any order...but nonetheless, great tweak!

A drag and drop style interface would be good or maybe clickable arrows to move items up or down. It's a little above my head. I'd need input from others. I did notice one game Assassin's Creed II Deluxe that doesn't get sorted properly. If you open the PARAM.SFO file for that game and change the title from "Loader" to "Assassin's Creed II" it will correct that game's sort order. I've currently got close to 350 items in my xmb game category and this is the only one I've run across with that issue. If you want to spend the time, you might be able to edit each game's title in it's PARAM.SFO to something like "001 Astro Tripper" ,"004 Assassins' Creed II", "003 Infamous", "002 Mortal Kombat" and the results would be

Astro Tripper
Mortal Komat
Infamous
Assassin's Creed II

I haven't tested this and it may leave the numbers in the game titles, but you'd be able to sort it anyway you like. It might be something to work on

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 06:41 PM
- Reply
Anybody who saw my earlier post before I deleted it about fixing Assassin's Creed II Deluxe (NPUB30423) it was not working properly. Here is the correct fix to put that game in it's proper sort order. This will not let you play the game if you don't already have it and before anyone asks, I won't tell you where to find it. All you have to do is install the pkg, then restart PS3 to resort the list

Multiupload.com - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites!

EDIT: Upon further testing, this fix will sort the game properly until you actually launch the game. The game seems to restore the original PARAM.SFO. Working on a solution - open to suggestions

EDIT 2: Tried fixing permissions of the PARAM.SFO and also setting read-only, system and hidden in windows. No luck. It looks like it's an in-game check and restore. Oh well, 1 misplaced out of over 300 isn't bad

RazorX - 01-06-2012, 06:52 PM
- Reply
this doesnt seem to work for me

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 07:13 PM
- Reply
did you try the file I uploaded Attachment 32463. Also make sure you're editing the right user account, in the correct display mode and that you've categorized all items you want sorted. Did you reset? As mentioned earlier, try temporarily changing the name of your category folders (not each individual item) , then back again. Can't help you if all I get is it didn't work

Jay-Jay - 01-06-2012, 07:38 PM
- Reply
Keep in mind guys that you have to create folders (categories) for your games. Then you must edit the album info in each game to append them to those categories (folders). Once you've added this tweak and then you've created these folders, then the games inside these folders will be alphabetically organized.

Quick tute in creating Albums for your game icons:
1. When you are in the game XMB column, press SQUARE until you sort them all by album.
2. Then select any game or homebrew icon you have in your game xmb column. Press TRIANGLE, scroll down to Information for the game or app.
3. Now the Album box should be blinking. Press X and then name an Album. Once you do that, you will see that the game icon has been moved to that particular named album.
4. Do that to each game. Please note: You have to name the album exactly the same for some games to be added to those particular albums you create.
I hope this help.

BahumatLord - 01-06-2012, 07:53 PM
- Reply
@Jay-Jay- Thanks. I sometimes underexplain things.
To make things easier if you can type well, you can hook up a usb keyboard to categorize each item. Use your arrow keys to navigate, hit enter to go into a submenu, and hit F1 to bring up the information menu that lets you change the categories. If you can't type well, then remember that the ps3 will save everything you enter into the virtual keyboard through your PS3 controller, so you would only have to hit the first letter, then move all the way to the right and select a previously created category from there

EDIT: Looks like nobody's having any major problems with it. If anybody has a question and I don't give an answer on here, just drop me a line. Enjoy

atreyu187 - 01-06-2012, 11:25 PM
- Reply
This is tops and IMO one of the best darn tweaks I have ever seen for the PS3!!

mschumacher69 - 01-07-2012, 10:20 AM
- Reply
Originally Posted by BahumatLord

Edit 2: The ps3 has a display mode that sorts titles into Playstation 3/Playstation/NeoGeo/minis. This is not the correct view for this to work. Hit square in your xmb to verify you're in the correct view mode. You have to manually categorize each item

Actually, it does work with this view, I just tried it and I didn't have to categorize anything manually, I kept it in the default view and it sorted them Alphabetically both in the built-in Playstation 3 and Playstation folders!

Anyways, thanks for this tweak, this is one of the things that I hate the most in the PS3 and now there's a way to fix it!!!

BahumatLord - 01-07-2012, 12:02 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by mschumacher69

Actually, it does work with this view, I just tried it and I didn't have to categorize anything manually, I kept it in the default view and it sorted them Alphabetically both in the built-in Playstation 3 and Playstation folders!

Might have been a quirk with mine then. At the time I first did this I was over 300 titles. Might have been too many for the ps3 to sort on it's own without resetting the categories.
@atreyu187 - Snooch to the motherf**kin nooch. Nice tag. You made me want to break out one of those movies

mschumacher69 - 01-07-2012, 12:59 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by BahumatLord

Might have been a quirk with mine then. At the time I first did this I was over 300 titles. Might have been too many for the ps3 to sort on it's own without resetting the categories.

Probably, I only had 3 titles in each folder when I did mine.

EDIT: Also, one thing I did which is different than yours, I changed all to ascend. In yours, _format is descend, _tags is ascend and _all is descend.
Now that I look at it again, _format is the default (Format) view, _tags is the category (Album) view and _all is the All view. So maybe because you kept your _format as descend, it sorted them into descending order so you might have thought that they weren't sorted alphabetically because they were sorted into descending order.