Windows Explorer File Extension Column

Windows Explorer does not provide a way to sort files by their file extension. The only way that resembles that sorting filter would be to filter by type. That however has not the same effect. Take files with the file extensions wav and mp3 and sort them by type. You will notice that they will be mixed in the Windows Explorer view because type refers to the type of the file and not its extension.

The tool Cpext adds a file extension column to Windows Explorer making it possible to sort the files in detailed view by their file extension and not their type.

The Windows Explorer extension is available for Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows XP including the 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP.

A right-click on the file CPExt.inf and the selection of install will start the installation of the Windows Explorer extension. A logoff / logon or reboot is required before the additional column becomes available in Windows Explorer.

The column has to be activated by right-clicking on a existing column in detail view mode and selecting more from the menu that opens. Check the Ext entry in the following menu to add the file extension column to Windows Explorer.