A player can present the same entries in several orders. Alphabetical order compares names, source order preserves a supplied sequence, and a supported channel-number view can use another field. Changing the active sort mode does not necessarily change the underlying catalogue.
This distinction explains why a list can look rearranged even when no sources were added or removed. Check the view before editing names or numbers. A navigation preference is often the right place for an ordering change.
Understand what the numbers mean
Text sorting can place labels beginning with “10” differently from a numerical comparison of 2 and 10. A player may offer natural sorting or another documented method. Do not assume every interface interprets digits embedded in names as actual channel numbers.
A separate supplied number can also belong to a particular lineup. It is not a universal broadcaster identifier. Keep channel identity and guide association intact even when the household chooses another local sequence.
Check an unexpected order
Avoid renaming every entry with numerical prefixes merely to work around an unexamined setting. Those prefixes can make search awkward and may disappear after a source refresh. A supported local order or favourites list can preserve preference more cleanly.
- Record the active view, category and sort mode.
- Identify which field the application uses for that order.
- Compare a few known names and supplied numbers.
- Choose the supported mode that matches the household’s task.
- Verify that the intended entries remain correctly identified after the change.
Account for language and migration
Alphabetic ordering can vary with language and collation rules. Accents, punctuation and scripts may be placed differently by another application. An unfamiliar order after migration does not prove that the title text was corrupted.
Check whether an export includes local ordering preferences or only source records. A byte-perfect transfer can still restore a different view when those preferences were omitted. Record the scope rather than repeatedly importing the same file.
For support, state the selected sort mode, relevant field values and the sequence observed. Keep private addresses out of the example. The useful result is predictable navigation based on an understood rule, not a catalogue rewritten until the first screen happens to look familiar.
Useful answers
Is a number in a display name always the channel-number field?
No. Text labels and supplied numbering can be separate.
Can another app sort the same titles differently?
Yes. Collation and sort modes can differ.
Should all names be prefixed with numbers before checking settings?
No. Inspect the supported ordering controls first.