diff --git a/grabbit/core.py b/grabbit/core.py
index 84009db..a2a87be 100644
--- a/grabbit/core.py
+++ b/grabbit/core.py
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ class Layout(object):
             return_type (str): Type of result to return. Valid values:
                 'tuple': returns a list of namedtuples containing file name as
                     well as attribute/value pairs for all named entities.
-                'file': returns a list of File instances.
+                'file': returns a list of matching filenames.
                 'dir': returns a list of directories.
                 'id': returns a list of unique IDs. Must be used together with
                     a valid target.
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class Layout(object):
             result.append(file)
 
         if return_type == 'file':
-            return result
+            return natural_sort([f.path for f in result])
 
         if return_type == 'tuple':
             result = [r.as_named_tuple() for r in result]

Redefining File class is confusing
Returning File objects which are something different that python build in [file object](https://docs.python.org/3/glossary.html#term-file-object)
diff --git a/grabbit/tests/test_core.py b/grabbit/tests/test_core.py
index 0c92377..11da286 100644
--- a/grabbit/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/grabbit/tests/test_core.py
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ class TestLayout:
         result = layout.get(target='subject', return_type='dir')
         assert os.path.exists(result[0])
         assert os.path.isdir(result[0])
+        result = layout.get(target='subject', type='phasediff', return_type='file')
+        assert all([os.path.exists(f) for f in result])
 
     def test_unique_and_count(self, layout):
         result = layout.unique('subject')

pip install -e .
parse_log_pytest
requirements.txt
pytest
3.5
requirements.txt
pytest --no-header -rA --tb=line --color=no -p no:cacheprovider -W ignore::DeprecationWarning
attrs==22.2.0
certifi==2021.5.30
-e git+https://github.com/grabbles/grabbit.git@afe361809ca5c040a46caa9f8a9bae017bcc706e#egg=grabbit
importlib-metadata==4.8.3
iniconfig==1.1.1
packaging==21.3
pluggy==1.0.0
py==1.11.0
pyparsing==3.1.4
pytest==7.0.1
six==1.17.0
tomli==1.2.3
typing_extensions==4.1.1
zipp==3.6.0

name: grabbit
channels:
  - defaults
  - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main
  - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r
  - conda-forge
dependencies:
  - _libgcc_mutex=0.1=main
  - _openmp_mutex=5.1=1_gnu
  - ca-certificates=2025.2.25=h06a4308_0
  - certifi=2021.5.30=py36h06a4308_0
  - ld_impl_linux-64=2.40=h12ee557_0
  - libffi=3.3=he6710b0_2
  - libgcc-ng=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - libgomp=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - libstdcxx-ng=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - ncurses=6.4=h6a678d5_0
  - openssl=1.1.1w=h7f8727e_0
  - pip=21.2.2=py36h06a4308_0
  - python=3.6.13=h12debd9_1
  - readline=8.2=h5eee18b_0
  - setuptools=58.0.4=py36h06a4308_0
  - sqlite=3.45.3=h5eee18b_0
  - tk=8.6.14=h39e8969_0
  - wheel=0.37.1=pyhd3eb1b0_0
  - xz=5.6.4=h5eee18b_1
  - zlib=1.2.13=h5eee18b_1
  - pip:
      - attrs==22.2.0
      - importlib-metadata==4.8.3
      - iniconfig==1.1.1
      - packaging==21.3
      - pluggy==1.0.0
      - py==1.11.0
      - pyparsing==3.1.4
      - pytest==7.0.1
      - six==1.17.0
      - tomli==1.2.3
      - typing-extensions==4.1.1
      - zipp==3.6.0
prefix: /opt/conda/envs/grabbit

grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestLayout::test_querying
grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestFile::test_init grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestFile::test_matches grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestFile::test_named_tuple grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestEntity::test_init grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestEntity::test_matches grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestEntity::test_unique_and_count grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestEntity::test_add_file grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestLayout::test_init grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestLayout::test_absolute_paths grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestLayout::test_dynamic_getters grabbit/tests/test_core.py::TestLayout::test_unique_and_count
grabbit/core.py
grabbit/core.py