UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I have one file like this:

Code:

NEW
/ifs/SQL_Backups3/SQL_SharePoint1
NEW
/ifs/SQL_Backups/SQL_SharePoint

This can be easily sorted by the following command:

Code:

cat  file| sort -k3,3n

But I have another file like this:

Code:

/Pool0/local/Benchmark
/Pool0/local/CRAD
/Pool0/local/crdhw/espresso_scratch1
/Pool0/local/crdhw/neo_scratch1
/Pool0/local/crdhw/neo_scratch10
/Pool0/local/crdhw/neo_scratch2
/Pool0/local/crdhw/neo_scratch36
/Pool0/local/crdhw/neo_scratch4
/Pool0/local/crdhw/neo_scratch7

This file can't be sorted by file |sort -k5,5n or any other command.
The only way I've gotten it to sort is by the following:

Code:

file |sort -t/ -k5.12n

I am wondering if there is a certain criteria that will cause you to need to use a character numerical sort instead of a column sort? I am sort of confused on this.

In addition, I am also wondering if sort allows you to use the case insensitive option with numerical sorts. What if I had Scratch4 and scratch4 as paths? From what I can see, you can't use the numerical sort and the -f option even if you specify the column and character to use. It will always put the upper case at the top. Is there a way to turn this off through collation or LC_COLLATE?