Alphanumeric

[Elgin Clock]

I had a conversation at work recently as to how to file some documents.

The person I was talking to brought up the term Alphanumeric, and asked me what I think would be filed first in a system like that.

I knew I was bested by that question, and he meant Letters (Alpha coming first in the term) but reverted back to computer knowledge and said numbers (half jokingly).

What's up with the word Alphanumeric stating in common sense terminology, that Letters should come before Numbers in an organizational system, but Computer programs (like excel, or windows explorer) defaulting to organize file names or fields with numbers first when you sort?

What's up with that?