I'm not sure exactly what your looking for either, but massaging data files starts at the very beginning with file structure. I use LR for file management. Setting up your file structure in a drill down manner will do a lot of sorting. For example I use a Master File "X", under that are major categories and sub categories. If i click on Master I have every image in every category and sub category. Each time I click down, only images specific to that heading are included.
LR has some powerful search capabilities. If you include Keywords on your images, you can sort for them later. You can also use LR to sort metadata information, IE everything shot with a certain date, lens camera, etc everything included in the metadata..