Category : File Managers
Archive   : PCWIZ300.ZIP
Filename : SORT.INS

SORT Used to "FILTER" data contained in a file and
DISPLAY it on the screen in a rearranged format
(Format 1); to create a new file that contains
the same data as another file, only in SORTED
order (Format 2); or to display the output of
another command in a SORTed format when used
as a "PIPE" (Format 3).

Format: 1) SORT <[D:Path]FileSpec [/R] [/+Col]

2) SORT <[D:Path]SFile >[D:Path]DFile [/R][/+C]

3) COMMAND [Para] | SORT [/R] [/+Col]

/R sorts in REVERSE alphabetical order

/+Col causes the sorting to be based on the COLUMN
number specified.
Example: SORT < PHONES.TXT

Displays the contents of the PHONES.TXT file in the
CURRENT directory in alpha-order on your screen.

Example: SORT < \NOTES\PHONES.TXT /R

Displays the contents of the PHONES.TXT file in the
\NOTES directory on the CURRENT drive in REVERSE
alpha-order on your screen.

Example: SORT < PHONES.TXT > PHONES.SRT /+35

Creates a new file named PHONE.SRT that contains the
same data as is in the source file named PHONES.TXT,
except the data is now in alpha-order based on the
character in column 35. (e.,g,. character 35 is the
beginning of the area code in the PHONE.TXT file.)
Example: DIR | SORT

Displays a directory listing of the CURRENT directory
that is sorted in alphabetical order.

Example: DIR \WP\*.TXT | SORT /+25

Displays a directory listing of the \WP\*.TXT files
on the current drive that is sorted in alphabetical
order by file creation date.

Example: DIR D:\WP | SORT /+9 >LPT1

Sorts the \WP directory on drive D: according to
file extension (col 9) and sends the output directly
to your printer where it is immediately printed. (An
example of both PIPING "|" and REDIRECTION ">" in a
single operation!)

Example: DIR D:\WP | SORT >WPSORT.LST

Same as above, except directory is sorted according
to file name and the output is REDIRECTED to a NEW
file named WPSORT.LST in the CURRENT directory. This
file can later be displayed on the screen using the
TYPE command or be printed using the COPY command
with the >LPT1 redirection parameter.


[*] NEVER issued the SORT command WITHOUT specifying
parameters. A command of just "SORT" all by itself
will cause your computer to enter an endless loop.
If this accidentally happens, IMMEDIATELY shut-down
the system by either turning it off at the power
source or by using the "Alt-Ctrl-Del" sequence to
reset the system.

[*] The sophisticated manipulations of file contents
you can perform using a combination of FILTERING,
REDIRECTION and PIPING is almost endless. Using the
basic formats and examples contained herein should
provide you with an understanding of how these
basic techniques work; and with a little "creative"
thinking and experimentation, you will begin to get
a real appreciation of just how "POWERFUL" the world
of DOS really is!