Albums sorted by Date

[Timmipoo]

I realize this should be simple but I cannot get albums to be listed by Date (as opposed to alphabetically by track Title)

Here are my relevant setting,

indexTags: AlbumArtist, Artist, Album, Release Date, Date, Genre, Title
tagOptions: AlbumArtist.ignore.sort={The}, Artist.ignore.sort={The}, Album.sortTags={Date, Album}
tagFormat: Album.displayFormat={$album^$date^ (^)}, Album.indexFormat={$album^$date^ (^)}

I have also tried Album.sortTags={Date} and Album.sortTags={Album, Date}, but albums show up alphabetically.

And this may be related. I append the date to the album. But it only appears in the <n> albums, but not Album.
   

[simbun]

The foobar plugin you're using has been long abandoned; instead of retaining the sort order from the server it's applying its own. You can double check this by browsing your MinimServer instance with BubbleUPnP (Android), mconnect (ios) or VLC.

[simoncn]

The unwanted sort order for the Album index is shown on other control points as well as foobar2000. It is caused by a limitation in MinimServer (see below).

There are a number of issues with your settings, For some but not all of these issues there are workarounds.

1) Album.sortTags controls the sort order of the <n> albums list but does not control the sort order of the Album index. This is clear from reading the List sort order section but is not clear from reading the Tag options section. I will update the Tag options section to clarify this.

2) You can control the sort order of the Album index by using the Album.value.sort option of the tagValue property. For example, the setting Album.value.sort={Date} shows the Album list sorted by most recent date last. It isn't possible to change this to sort by most recent date first.

3) indexFormat isn't working for Album index entries because your files already have an Album tag and indexFormat doesn't replace an existing tag value. This limitation is described in the Index tag formatting section. To work around this limitation, you can create an AlbumIndex index and alias it to show as Album, as follows:

indexTags: AlbumIndex:Album
tagFormat: AlbumIndex.indexFormat={$album^$date^ (^)}

Taking all these together, your settings would be:

indexTags: AlbumArtist, Artist, AlbumIndex:Album, Release Date, Date, Genre, Title
tagOptions: AlbumArtist.ignore.sort={The}, Artist.ignore.sort={The}, Album.sortTags={Date, Album}
tagValue: Album.value.sort={Date}
tagFormat: Album.displayFormat={$album^$date^ (^)}, AlbumIndex.indexFormat={$album^$date^ (^)}

This almost does what you want but shows the Album index in reverse order from what you would like to see.

Is there a reason for using the Album index instead of the <n> albums list? The <n> albums list does everything you want and is simpler to configure.

[simbun]

(15-02-2026 16:48)simoncn Wrote:  The unwanted sort order for the Album index is shown on other control points as well as foobar2000. It is caused by a limitation in MinimServer (see below).

It's possible that I've got something misconfigured my end, but even with your proposed changes the order of both (<n> albums and Album) in foobar is still alphabetical.

(15-02-2026 16:48)simoncn Wrote:  Is there a reason for using the Album index instead of the <n> albums list? The <n> albums list does everything you want and is simpler to configure.

The secondary album index in conjunction with the title index allows the OP to view the album's track listing within the browse window, though this too is sorted alphabetically.
   

[Timmipoo]

simbun and simoncn, thank you for your detailed responses. I do need it explained like I'm 5 years old (no sarcasm, I really do).

Yes, it was mostly foobar messing me up (I guess it is appropriately named). I only use the foobar UPnP Browser as a quick check of my minimserver settings. The date order does indeed work browsing with the Wiim Home app for the Wiim and StreamMagic app for the Cambridge streamer. I should have checked... These are what I actually use.

To answer simoncn's question: I'm fine with using the <n> albums list. I was mostly giving you any additional info that might help diagnose my problem.

I did just try your recommended settings, works great.

I realize now that this info is indeed in the documentation, but I just couldn't quite figure it out. So, thanks for your help.

[Timmipoo]

Simbun, the albums are sorted for me by date with most recent last (as I prefer) in both places. This is browsing with either Wiim Home or StreamMagic on iOS.

[Timmipoo]

They are still alphabetical in Foobar, but doesn’t matter to me.