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How to sort documentary episode playlists by length for true crime fans

A plain guide for true crime fans to sort documentary episode playlists by length, with steps, tools and mistakes to avoid.

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XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

List each episode with its running time, rank the list from shortest to longest, then apply that order to the playlist by hand or with a tool.

OptionHow it orders episodes
Paper list or sticky noteYou rank by hand
SpreadsheetYou sort by a running time column you fill in
YTSortReorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first [1]

What you need before you start

Sorting a documentary playlist by length takes only a few things.

True crime series often run in parts that build on each other, so know which episodes depend on earlier ones. Set aside a short block before you begin, because sorting while you are already watching breaks your flow.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and paper.

  1. Open the playlist. Confirm you can see every episode before you choose a way to reorder it.
  2. List each episode with its running time. Write the title and the length shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
  3. Mark episodes that must stay in order. If episode four needs episode three, keep them together. Note the case name too, so episodes about the same case stay near each other.
  4. Rank the rest from shortest to longest. Put the shortest at the top.
  5. Decide what happens to the longest episodes. Leave them at the end or save them for a longer free block.
  6. Read the new order once. Look from top to bottom for an episode that now sits before the one it depends on.
  7. Apply the order. Move the episodes by hand in the playlist, or use a tool that does it for you.
  8. Watch from the top. Start with the first episode and move down the list.
  9. Keep short notes. A line per episode helps you track names, dates and places across a long series.
  10. Review after a few sessions. If the order is not helping you follow the story, change it.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this, and several approaches work. Here are three options to consider.

Paper list or sticky note: you write each title and length and rank them by hand.

A spreadsheet: you can list titles and lengths in columns and sort the length column yourself. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not covered here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

YTSort is one option among those above. YTSort is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the episodes loaded on screen. [1] It can also show the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [1] It can sort only episodes within a length range and move the rest to the end. [1]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. [1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge. [1] The script version works with a script add-on such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed in your browser. [1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Sorting a series that builds story by story. If later episodes rely on earlier ones, a pure shortest-first order can leave you lost in the case. Keep dependent episodes together.

Trusting the order without a look. Read it once before you start. A quick check catches an episode that ended up in an odd spot.

Leaving the longest episodes forever. Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a set time or they may never get watched.

Reordering a playlist that is not yours. Check who owns it first. If it is not yours, copy the episodes into your own playlist or keep a written list.

Watching without notes. Several episodes on one case can blur together. A line per episode keeps names and dates straight.

Never revisiting the order. If it no longer suits your schedule, change it instead of sticking with it.

Frequently asked questions

How do you sort documentary episode playlists from shortest to longest?

List each episode with its running time, rank the list from shortest to longest, then apply that order to the playlist by hand. A tool such as YTSort can do the reordering for you instead. [1] Before you start watching, read the new order once so that episodes from the same case stay near each other, and keep any episodes that build on earlier ones in sequence.

Can YTSort show the new order before it changes a playlist?

YTSort shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [1] It also sorts the full playlist, not just the episodes loaded on screen. [1] YTSort shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [1]

Can YTSort keep the longest episodes for later?

YTSort can sort only the videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [1] It can also sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [1] Choose the range that matches the time you have free, then check the order before you start.

Which browsers can run YTSort?

The browser extension needs Chrome or Edge. [1] The script version works with a script add-on such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed in your browser. [1] YTSort can also run from a bookmark, a browser script or a Chrome Web Store extension. [1]

Is YTSort free for true crime fans to use?

YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [1] It is also free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [1] Check the tool's own page for any current details before installing, since this page cannot track changes made after it was written.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [1]

Try YTSort

Sources

  1. YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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