Hello,
Version 13.10.2 beta (although is/was happening in previous versions).
I can't find a way to maintain sorting for tabs in a lister, which survive Directory Opus being closed and re-opened.
I've tried Tab Groups, I've set the formatting multiple times, both in Preferences and using Folder > Folder Format.
If I change the sort order and close the application, re-opening it always opens to the natural sort order, not the one I've specified.
What's shown in your screenshot should normally set the sort order for that folder (but no other folders, and not sub-folders).
If you're seeing something else when you enter that folder, hover the mouse over the 
icon on the status bar to find out where the current folder format came from.
I'm sorry to be dense, I've played with so many options at this point.
I just want one lister on the left with a tab sorted descending by modified date each time I open, two more tabs in different locations sorted normally.
On the right another lister with a single tab, different location, sorted normally.
I would like those to be the same each time DO starts.
This is what the tab which doesn't maintain its sort shows:
I've tried saving the individual "Folder Format" for the path over and over with the proper sort. It shows as a "favorite". Problem is, I just want that sort to be kept for one tab, and I would like it each time I start or navigate back to the tab.
Regards,
-J
That means Preferences / Layouts and Styles / Default Lister / Ignore folder format of Default Lister has been turned off.
Try turning it back on, Apply or OK the Preferences dialog, and then open a new window.
Done. Ensured the folder format sorting is set up, saved folder format, applied, etc. Closed DO. Re-opened. Sorting not honored.
Here is the info now
Under Preferences > Folders > Folder Formats > Path Formats
I have this setting, which works when applied, but is not honored after DO is closed and re-opened.
Is it just the sub-folders that are alphabetical, or the files as well?
"Keep folders sorted alphabetically" at the top is on. Does that explain it?
No. This folder format, when applied, works exactly as expected.
I'm trying to ensure that each time I open DO, it has this C:\users\foo\Downloads files (only) sorted by modified date descending.
It doesn't do that. It always sorts name ascending, no matter what I seem to do.
I would also like to be able to navigate to the folder in another tab, and when I arrive at the folder, have it sorted as mentioned above.
-J
There should be no need to do anything other than run
Set SAVEFORMAT=folder
on the properly formatted folder.
The folder should remain correctly formatted, regardless of how it is opened.
I wanted to follow up with a reply. I really never felt like I was doing anything "wrong". I did have some misgivings about layouts vs tab groups vs other things, but felt I understood enough to be making good decisions.
I eventually ripped out large swaths of settings, tab groups, etc. Once done, I closed, re-opened, and re-added things from the ground up. Now, the sorting maintains itself between launches. I wish I could tell you I did something different, but I don't feel that I did.
I appreciate your help along the way.
Regards,
-J