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Create any project. Open "Properties" pane(menu Window/Properties). Expand created project item in the "Projects" pane and expand "Source Packages"(You may add any packages and java classes). "Sort mode" field is accessible in the "Properties" pane for the "Source Packages" OR package in project tree, but doesn't work correct. The same for the folders in the "Files" pane.
Reproducible.
This issue still exists till date. ( NetBeans 7.3 beta) Package sort options seem to be updated when the project window gets focus immediately after the properties get changed.
This old bug may not be relevant anymore. If you can still reproduce it in 8.2 development builds please reopen this issue. Thanks for your cooperation, NetBeans IDE 8.2 Release Boss