SORT

sort − sort lines of text files

sort [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Write sorted concatenation of all FILE(s) to standard output.

+POS1 [-POS2]

start a key at POS1, end it *before* POS2 (obsolescent) field numbers and character offsets are numbered starting with zero (contrast with the −k option)

−b

ignore leading blanks in sort fields or keys

−c

check if given files already sorted, do not sort

−d

consider only [a-zA-Z0-9 ] characters in keys

−f

fold lower case to upper case characters in keys

−g

compare according to general numerical value, imply −b

−i

consider only [\040-\0176] characters in keys

−k POS1[,POS2]

start a key at POS1, end it *at* POS2 field numbers and character offsets are numbered starting with one (contrast with zero-based +POS form)

−m

merge already sorted files, do not sort

−M

compare (unknown) < ‘JAN’ < ... < ‘DEC’, imply −b

−n

compare according to string numerical value, imply −b

−o FILE

write result on FILE instead of standard output

−r

reverse the result of comparisons

−s

stabilize sort by disabling last resort comparison

−t SEP

use SEParator instead of non- to whitespace transition

−T DIRECTORY

use DIRECTORY for temporary files, not $TMPDIR or /tmp

−u

with −c, check for strict ordering; with −m, only output the first of an equal sequence

−z

end lines with 0 byte, not newline, for find −print0

−−help

display this help and exit

−−version

output version information and exit

POS is F[.C][OPTS], where F is the field number and C the character position in the field, both counted from one with −k, from zero with the obsolescent form. OPTS is made up of one or more of Mbdfinr; this effectively disables global −Mbdfinr settings for that key. If no key is given, use the entire line as the key. With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

Written by Mike Haertel.

Report bugs to <bug-textutils@gnu.org>.

Copyright © 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

The full documentation for sort is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and sort programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info sort

should give you access to the complete manual.