UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

With awk only:

Code:

awk 'END { for (k in _) print __[k] } 
$2 > _[$1] { _[$1] = $2; __[$1] = $0 }
' infile

Use gawk, nawk or /usr/xpg4/bin/awk on Solaris.

radoulov many thanks, this along with scottn's suggestions, will be very useful.
i will be using a solaris 8 workstation soon in an admin role that may involve the odd (little)bit of line processing.
.
To help me I am in the process of setting up a solaris 9 system in a vmware virtual pc so i will be able to learn a bit at home as well as work. i have been using cygwin but i think the virtual pc (and the sed & awk book when it comes) will be more useful. :-)
cheers