Paul Eggert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]>ls -l | sort -k 5
>> total 3165056
>> -rw-r--r-- � �1 robertd �users � � � � 678 Jul 10 15:15 rejected_tms_inbox.dmp.gz
>> -rw-r--r-- � �1 robertd �users � � � � 840 Jul 21 13:50 161examples.dmp.gz
>> -rw-r--r-- � �1 robertd �users � � � �2446 Aug 14 13:32 prob.dmp.gz
>
> That's not what sort -k 5 is supposed to do. It's supposed to sort
> lexicographically, so the proper order for the 1st four lines is:
>
> total 3165056
> -rw-r--r-- � �1 robertd �users � � � �2446 Aug 14 13:32 prob.dmp.gz
> -rw-r--r-- � �1 robertd �users � � � � 678 Jul 10 15:15 rejected_tms_inbox.dmp.gz
> -rw-r--r-- � �1 robertd �users � � � � 840 Jul 21 13:50 161examples.dmp.gz
>
> because 2446 lexicographically precedes 678 (because "2" precendes "6").
>
> You probably want "sort -k 5n" or something like that. However, it's still
> worrisome that "sort -k 5" doesn't work as it should.
Note that the whitespace before the number is part of the sort key:
A field comprises a maximal sequence of non-separating characters and, in
the absence of option -t, any preceding field separator.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
So if you have right aligned numbers in a field, -n gives the same result
as without -n.
Andreas.
--
Andreas Schwab, SuSE Labs, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
SuSE Linux AG, Deutschherrnstr. 15-19, D-90429 N�rnberg
Key fingerprint = 58CA 54C7 6D53 942B 1756 01D3 44D5 214B 8276 4ED5
"And now for something completely different."
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