Hi December
In the Windows Explorer Window you can choose to arrange icons by name, type, size,date and auto arrange. If you choose one of those and mark out remember each folder's view settings in folder option -> view, then this will sort your files as you request. So will the Dialogs component.
I know that in Delphi6 and 7 there is also a Sample component(ShellListView) where there is a property called sorted. You can just set the property to TRUE then the files and folders in this component will be sorted. I dont know if this will also sort the Dialogs component.
I also dont know if this component follows with the earlier Delphi versions..
The Sample component use a ShellCtrls.pas file.
If you want to make your own code take a look at the file, ShellCtrls.pas file... maybe you can use something from there... .
C:\Program Files\Borland\Delphi(x)\Demos\ShellControls\ShellCtrls.pas
Michael