Embodiments are disclosed for problematic characters. The techniques include configuring a sort utility of an operating system to generate a replacement file that resolves a problem of a problematic file. Configuring the sort utility includes identifying the problematic file. The techniques further include identifying the replacement file. Additionally, configuring the sort utility includes providing an input to the sort utility that specifies a problematic character and a replacement character. Also, configuring the sort utility includes generating the replacement file by executing the configured sort utility.