Sort a file line by line alphabetically

H2OBoodle · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

infile:
z y x
c b a

desired output:
x y z
a b c

I don't want to sort the lines into this:
a b c
x y z

nor this:
c b a
z y x

The number of fields per line and number of lines is indeterminate. The field separator is always a space.

Thanks for the use of your collective brains.

KevinADC · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

what have you tried so far?

HPAVC · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

My homework was never this much fun. You have to do this all in bash or what exactly?

PHP Code:


			
#!/usr/bin/perl                                                                                                              

use strict;
use warnings;

while(my $line = <STDIN>) {
    print join(" ", sort(split(/s+/, $line))) . "\n";
}

H2OBoodle · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

I've studied the sort docs and tried many combinations without success.
sort

I'm sure I could muddle my way through with a python script, but I was hoping to get a one-liner using a "sort" or similar utility.

This exercise is really just a puzzle I came up with while reading the Vim docs on filters. I was trying to sort a range of lines, then I asked myself if I could just sort the current line.

I'm not a student in any classes, just a student of life.

H2OBoodle · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

I responded to your question but I included a link, so I guess it's being held up for administrator review. Anyway, I've tried "sort" and some awk, but still no joy.

H2OBoodle · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

The old split sort join trick. Nice. Thanks.

ghostdog74 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2OBoodle

Anyway, I've tried "sort" and some awk, but still no joy.

you should show how you did that.
anyway, have a go at it

Code:

awk '
 {
  for(i=NF;i>0;i--){
      # fill in the blanks
  }
 }
' file

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