How do sort songs on my ipod via iTunes

[Rondo1]

First let me make it clear what I'm asking here. When within iTunes, looking at the LIBRARY I can sort my music any way that I please by selecting the column header, or selecting items in the browser. HOWEVER, when I click in my iPod then all the music there is sorted by TRACK # and I have no way to sort the music differently. Often I want to verify that the songs that I just added were actually copied to my iTunes. I want to do this because too many times, even after iTunes says that iPod update is complete - it is not, nor do I "sometimes" ever see the songs copy over. Usually a forced iPod update fixes the problem. But to verify it I have to undock my iPod and search manually on the ipod using the click wheel. I'd rather just SORT the songs on my iPod while its still connected to iTunes to tell. But when I select my iPod from the SOURCE window on the left, all of my music on my ipod is grayed out and it is sorted by TRACK #.

I then found out that if I change my settings from "automatically update all songs and playlists" to "manually manage all songs and playlists" suddenly I can turn on my browser and select the different columns and sort the music whatever way I please. When I switched it back to "automatically update all songs and playlists" then it goes back to being sorted by track #. Obviously this is totally useless since I have over 2050 songs on my iPod and the first 200 or so are all 1 of #. :mad: I want to be able to sort the music on my iPod via Itunes, just like I can sort my LIbrary via iTunes. :shake:

Does anyone know why this is the case? Why can't I change the sort of the music on my ipod via iTunes when my preferences are set to "automaticaly update all songs and playlists"? I want it to auto update when I connect the ipod -AND- I want to be able to sort the view of the songs when I'm looking at the songs on my ipod via iTunes. Can anyone shed some light on how I can do this? Do I have to switch to manual manage songs and playlists to get what I want?

Thanks

[applefreak]

Are track numbers that important to you? I`ve found that leaving track numbers in the name column hinders many good features. Eliminate manually (unfortunately one by one) track numbers from the song title and you

[Rondo1]

[QUOTE=applefreak]Are track numbers that important to you? I`ve found that leaving track numbers in the name column hinders many good features. Eliminate manually (unfortunately one by one) track numbers from the song title and you

[cjmnews]

You can't sort in automatic mode because the iTunes view of your iPod is set to read only.

The work-around you have found is the only way I have gotten it to work as well.

[mizzle]

you can always put it in whatever order you want in a playlist in itunes then when you have it the way you want it right click on the playlist and select copy play order or save play order or something like that...this will keep the playlist in the order you place it...then when you update your ipod the playlist will be in that order

....is that what you were asking about?

[Rondo1]

I think CJMNEWS gave me the answer that I thought it was all along. I just wish that I could put it in a certain order and then put it back in automatic update and it sticks with that sort order from then on. Why it chose track# is what baffles me. God any other sort would work fine - by name, by date, etc. By track# is just useless when you have 2500 songs on your iPod. :-(

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!