Auto File Sorter

Automatically group and sort files in a folder by type, and add numbered prefixes to filenames to improve file management efficiency.

Features

Feature	Description
Three numbering formats	`00 filename`, `00.filename`, `00_filename`
Adaptive digit length	≤99 files use 2 digits; 100–999 use 3 digits; >999 prompts folder split
File sorting & renaming	Sort and rename files based on selected scope and method
Sorting methods	By filename (alphabetical/numeric) or by creation time
Replace existing numbering	Remove old numbering and reapply with one click
Insert-based auto reordering	Automatically reorder when new unnumbered files are added

Usage

Sort a Single Folder

In VSCode Explorer, right-click any folder → select Sort & Number This Folder
In the popup, configure:
- Numbering format: space / dot / underscore
- Sorting method: by name / by creation time
- Sorting scope:
  - All files: ignore file types, unified numbering
  - By file type: grouped numbering
    - Group by type: files are grouped by type
    - Interleaved order: ignore type, display in sequence
- Exclude files/types: optionally exclude specific files or types
Click ▶ Start Sorting

Sort Entire Workspace

Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
Search: Sort & Number Entire Workspace

Undo Sorting

If numbering matches supported format → click Undo directly
Otherwise → enter regex of existing numbering → confirm undo

Numbering Examples

All Files

Original	After Sorting (space format)
report.docx	00 report.docx
meeting.docx	01 meeting.docx
budget.xlsx	02 budget.xlsx
cost.xlsx	03 cost.xlsx

Grouped by File Type

Original	After Sorting
report.docx	00 report.docx
meeting.docx	01 meeting.docx
budget.xlsx	00 budget.xlsx
cost.xlsx	01 cost.xlsx

Configuration (settings.json)

{
  "autoFileSorter.watchForChanges": true,
  "autoFileSorter.defaultFormat": "space",
  "autoFileSorter.defaultSortBy": "name"
}

Setting	Values	Description
`watchForChanges`	`true / false`	Whether to keep watching file changes after sorting
`defaultFormat`	`space / dot / underscore`	Default numbering format
`defaultSortBy`	`name / created`	Default sorting method

Project Structure

auto-file-sorter/ ├── src/ │ ├── extension.ts # Entry point, command registration │ ├── sorter.ts # Core sorting & renaming logic │ ├── watcher.ts # File watcher & auto reordering │ └── webview.ts # Config UI (HTML/CSS/JS) ├── package.json # Extension manifest └── tsconfig.json

Author： Gina Wang GitHub

demo

[Watch the video by clicking the link~]

(https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8edc3526-3c14-4b6a-856a-64a33aac7755)