GNU bug report logs - #30661
sort: add sort-by-hex-number feature

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Package: coreutils; Severity: wishlist; Reported by: James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>; dated Thu, 1 Mar 2018 00:02:01 UTC; Maintainer for coreutils is bug-coreutils@HIDDEN.
Changed bug title to 'sort: add sort-by-hex-number feature' from 'RFE: Add way for sort to handle hex numbers' Request was from Assaf Gordon <assafgordon@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
Severity set to 'wishlist' from 'normal' Request was from Assaf Gordon <assafgordon@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
Removed tag(s) notabug. Request was from Eric Blake <eblake@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
Changed bug title to 'RFE: Add way for sort to handle hex numbers' from 'sort' Request was from Eric Blake <eblake@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
Did not alter fixed versions and reopened. Request was from Debbugs Internal Request <help-debbugs@HIDDEN> to internal_control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.

Message received at 30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org:


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Subject: Re: bug#30661: closed (Re: bug#30661: sort)
To: James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>,
 "30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
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From: Eric Blake <eblake@HIDDEN>
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reopen 30661
retitle 30661 RFE: Add way for sort to handle hex numbers
tag 30661 -notabug
thanks

On 03/01/2018 05:29 PM, James Bunke wrote:
> $ echo -e "170\n11" | sort -n

echo -e is not portable; printf is better.

> 11
> 170
> $ echo -e "AA\nB" | sort -n
> AA
> B
> $ echo -e "0xAA\n0xB" | sort -n
> 0xAA
> 0xB

Again, 'sort --debug' is your friend:

$ printf '0xAA\n0xB\n' | LC_ALL=C sort -n --debug
sort: using simple byte comparison
0xAA
_
____
0xB
_
___

The numeric sort key parses '0' and stops at 'x', because it does NOT 
parse hexadecimal.

Here's what POSIX has to say about -n:
http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/sort.html

"-n
     Restrict the sort key to an initial numeric string, consisting of 
optional <blank> characters, optional <hyphen-minus> character, and zero 
or more digits with an optional radix character and thousands separators 
(as defined in the current locale), which shall be sorted by arithmetic 
value. An empty digit string shall be treated as zero. Leading zeros and 
signs on zeros shall not affect ordering."

Which does not directly mention "decimal", but the mention of a radix 
character (as in '1.2' or '1,2', depending on locale) pretty much 
implies decimal, as radix characters are only output by printf when 
printing floating point values in a decimal format.

> 
> Perhaps its the documentation that is lacking as I find no reference to hexadecimal ineither the "man" or "info" on sort -- can it sort hexadecimal?

-n cannot.  You are correct that we could improve the info page to make 
it explicit that -n sorts based on decimal values.  You also raise a 
good point that it may be worth adding a new sorting option that sorts 
by hexadecimal.  Although the existing practice of 
decorate/sort/undecorate to [temporarily] convert hex into decimal 
before sorting is going to be more portable, being able to directly sort 
hex does seem like something that may be worthwhile.

> No information  on whatsort considers to be a "numeral" or expects hexadecimal to be represented. I was justattempting to skip extra processes to convert the data or to write my own sort process.
> Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. Do you know who handles the documentation?Maybe there is newer man/info than on this old machine.

The info documentation is part of coreutils.git, so you've reached the 
right place.  I'm going to reopen and retitle this bug to request the 
ability to do hex sorting.


-- 
Eric Blake, Principal Software Engineer
Red Hat, Inc.           +1-919-301-3266
Virtualization:  qemu.org | libvirt.org




Information forwarded to bug-coreutils@HIDDEN:
bug#30661; Package coreutils. Full text available.

Message received at 30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org:


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Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2018 23:29:59 +0000 (UTC)
From: James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>
To: "30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
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Subject: Re: bug#30661: closed (Re: bug#30661: sort)
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 Content preview:  $ echo -e "170\n11" | sort -n 11 170 $ echo -e "AA\nB" | sort
    -n AA B $ echo -e "0xAA\n0xB" | sort -n 0xAA 0xB Perhaps its the documentation
    that is lacking as I find no reference to hexadecimal ineither the "man"
   or "info" on sort -- can it sort hexadecimal? No information on whatsort
   considers to be a "numeral" or expects hexadecimal to be represented. I was
    justattempting to skip extra processes to convert the data or to write my
    own sort process. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. Do you know who
    handles the documentation?Maybe there is newer man/info than on this old
   machine. [...] 
 
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 Content preview:  $ echo -e "170\n11" | sort -n 11 170 $ echo -e "AA\nB" | sort
    -n AA B $ echo -e "0xAA\n0xB" | sort -n 0xAA 0xB Perhaps its the documentation
    that is lacking as I find no reference to hexadecimal ineither the "man"
   or "info" on sort -- can it sort hexadecimal? No information on whatsort
   considers to be a "numeral" or expects hexadecimal to be represented. I was
    justattempting to skip extra processes to convert the data or to write my
    own sort process. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. Do you know who
    handles the documentation?Maybe there is newer man/info than on this old
   machine. [...] 
 
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$ echo -e "170\n11" | sort -n
11
170
$ echo -e "AA\nB" | sort -n
AA
B
$ echo -e "0xAA\n0xB" | sort -n
0xAA
0xB

Perhaps its the documentation that is lacking as I find no reference to hex=
adecimal ineither the "man" or "info" on sort -- can it sort hexadecimal? N=
o information=C2=A0 on whatsort considers to be a "numeral" or expects hexa=
decimal to be represented. I was justattempting to skip extra processes to =
convert the data or to write my own sort process.
Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. Do you know who handles the docume=
ntation?Maybe there is newer man/info than on this old machine.
 =20

    On Thursday, March 1, 2018 11:16 AM, GNU bug Tracking System <help-debb=
ugs@HIDDEN> wrote:
=20

 Your bug report

#30661: sort

which was filed against the coreutils package, has been closed.

The explanation is attached below, along with your original report.
If you require more details, please reply to 30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.

--=20
30661: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D30661
GNU Bug Tracking System
Contact help-debbugs@HIDDEN with problemstag 30661 notabug
thanks

On 02/28/2018 05:42 PM, James Bunke wrote:
> To: bug-coreutils@HIDDEN
>=20
> This seems an oversight than an actual bug:
>=20
>=C2=A0 =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 'sort -n' thinks "B" is a larger value than "AA"=
 -- yep! someone
> forgot about hexadecimal, but binary, octal, and decimal work fine.

Please demonstrate an actual command line that you typed and output you=20
got.=C2=A0 Here's what I tried in reproducing your claim:

$ printf 'AA\nB\n' | LC_ALL=3DC sort --debug -n
sort: using simple byte comparison
AA
^ no match for key
__
B
^ no match for key
_

As I typed it, 'sort -n' outputs the line AA before the line B because=20
of fallback sorting rules (the entire line is used when none of the keys=20
produced a difference, and since neither line was numeric, they were=20
equivalently treated as '0' by -n), contrary to your claim that sort=20
takes 'B' first.=C2=A0 Therefore, I don't know if my attempt matches what y=
ou=20
actually saw, as you did not give very many details other than a vague=20
verbal description of your issue.

>=20
> Suggestion: Don't revert to alphanumeric sorting until the rules are
> broken by the sort field:

Sorry, but 'sort -n' behavior is specified by POSIX, and we can't change=20
it, as that would break scripts that expect POSIX behavior.=C2=A0 Most=20
likely, sort can already do what you want with additional command line=20
options, but I don't even know what data you want sorted, or what output=20
you actually want, to tell you what command line would give the output=20
you want.=C2=A0 The --debug option can be great at learning what sort is=20
actually doing (and how it is more likely that your request is=20
incomplete, rather than sort misbehaving).

As such, I'm closing this as not a bug, as you have not demonstrated an=20
actual POSIX compliance issue; but do feel free to provide us with more=20
information, and we can reopen this if you actually do come up with=20
something that needs addressing beyond what sort can already do when=20
invoked correctly.

--=20
Eric Blake, Principal Software Engineer
Red Hat, Inc.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 +1-919-301-3266
Virtualization:=C2=A0 qemu.org | libvirt.org


To: bug-coreutils@HIDDEN

This seems an oversight than an actual bug:

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 'sort -n' thinks "B" is a larger value than "AA" -- yep!=
 someone
forgot about hexadecimal, but binary, octal, and decimal work fine.

Suggestion: Don't revert to alphanumeric sorting until the rules are
broken by the sort field:

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 1) There is an optional leading Plus(+) or Minus(-) but =
just one.
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 2) There is an optional single Point(.) that may occur a=
nywhere
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 within the field except before an opti=
onal Plus or Minus.
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 3) Numerals are limited to "0123456789ABCDEFabcdef".
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 4) No white space, other letters, or other punctuation a=
llowed or
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 revert to alphanumeric sort.

Thank You,
J.B.

P.S.: Shouldn't be necessary to transform data to sort it...
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Use '-nx' or '-gx' if you must, but it shoul=
dn't be needed.



  =20
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<html><head></head><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; f=
ont-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font=
-size:13px"><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9538"><span id=3D"yu=
i_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9791">$ echo -e "170\n11" | sort -n<br>11<br>=
170<br>$ echo -e "AA\nB" | sort -n<br>AA<br>B<br>$ echo -e "0xAA\n0xB" | so=
rt -n<br>0xAA<br>0xB<br></span></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151994392=
6768_9580"><br><span></span></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151994392676=
8_9821"><span id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9820">Perhaps its the d=
ocumentation that is lacking as I find no reference to hexadecimal in</span=
></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9794" dir=3D"ltr"><span i=
d=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9828">either the "man" or "info" on so=
rt -- can it sort hexadecimal? No information&nbsp; on what</span></div><di=
v id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_10535" dir=3D"ltr"><span id=3D"yui_=
3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9828">sort considers to be a "numeral" or expec=
ts hexadecimal to be represented. I was just</span></div><div id=3D"yui_3_1=
6_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_10534" dir=3D"ltr"><span id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1=
519943926768_9828">attempting to skip extra processes to convert the data o=
r to write my own sort process.</span></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15=
19943926768_10572" dir=3D"ltr"><span id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_=
9828"><br></span></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_10565" di=
r=3D"ltr"><span id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9828">Thank you for y=
our efforts on my behalf. Do you know who handles the documentation?</span>=
</div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_10599" dir=3D"ltr"><span i=
d=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9828">Maybe there is newer man/info th=
an on this old machine.<br></span></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151994=
3926768_10564" dir=3D"ltr"><span id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519943926768_9828=
"> </span></div> <div class=3D"qtdSeparateBR"><br><br></div><div style=3D"d=
isplay: block;" class=3D"yahoo_quoted"> <div style=3D"font-family: Helvetic=
a Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <di=
v style=3D"font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lu=
cida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <div dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"=
Arial" size=3D"2"> On Thursday, March 1, 2018 11:16 AM, GNU bug Tracking Sy=
stem &lt;help-debbugs@HIDDEN&gt; wrote:<br></font></div>  <br><br> <div cl=
ass=3D"y_msg_container">Your bug report<br><br>#30661: sort<br><br>which wa=
s filed against the coreutils package, has been closed.<br><br>The explanat=
ion is attached below, along with your original report.<br>If you require m=
ore details, please reply to <a ymailto=3D"mailto:30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org." h=
ref=3D"mailto:30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.">30661 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.</a><br><br>-- =
<br>30661: <a href=3D"http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D30661"=
 target=3D"_blank">http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D30661</a>=
<br>GNU Bug Tracking System<br>Contact <a ymailto=3D"mailto:help-debbugs@gn=
u.org" href=3D"mailto:help-debbugs@HIDDEN">help-debbugs@HIDDEN</a> with p=
roblems<div id=3D"ymsg50368" class=3D"ymsg1071832426" src=3D"mid://AGLWyQoA=
AB4rWpgnQwm4SPMOd98/2"><div dir=3D"ltr">tag 30661 notabug<br></div><div dir=
=3D"ltr">thanks<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">On 02/=
28/2018 05:42 PM, James Bunke wrote:<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">&gt; To: <a =
ymailto=3D"mailto:bug-coreutils@HIDDEN" href=3D"mailto:bug-coreutils@HIDDEN=
rg">bug-coreutils@HIDDEN</a><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">&gt; <br></div><div=
 dir=3D"ltr">&gt; This seems an oversight than an actual bug:<br></div><div=
 dir=3D"ltr">&gt; <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">&gt;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
'sort -n' thinks "B" is a larger value than "AA" -- yep! someone<br></div><=
div dir=3D"ltr">&gt; forgot about hexadecimal, but binary, octal, and decim=
al work fine.<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Please d=
emonstrate an actual command line that you typed and output you <br></div><=
div dir=3D"ltr">got.&nbsp; Here's what I tried in reproducing your claim:<b=
r></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">$ printf 'AA\nB\n' | LC=
_ALL=3DC sort --debug -n<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">sort: using simple byte =
comparison<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">AA<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">^ no matc=
h for key<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">__<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">B<br></div=
><div dir=3D"ltr">^ no match for key<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">_<br></div><=
div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">As I typed it, 'sort -n' outputs=
 the line AA before the line B because <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">of fallba=
ck sorting rules (the entire line is used when none of the keys <br></div><=
div dir=3D"ltr">produced a difference, and since neither line was numeric, =
they were <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">equivalently treated as '0' by -n), co=
ntrary to your claim that sort <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">takes 'B' first.&=
nbsp; Therefore, I don't know if my attempt matches what you <br></div><div=
 dir=3D"ltr">actually saw, as you did not give very many details other than=
 a vague <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">verbal description of your issue.<br></=
div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">&gt; <br></div><div dir=3D"=
ltr">&gt; Suggestion: Don't revert to alphanumeric sorting until the rules =
are<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">&gt; broken by the sort field:<br></div><div =
dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Sorry, but 'sort -n' behavior is spe=
cified by POSIX, and we can't change <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">it, as that=
 would break scripts that expect POSIX behavior.&nbsp; Most <br></div><div =
dir=3D"ltr">likely, sort can already do what you want with additional comma=
nd line <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">options, but I don't even know what data=
 you want sorted, or what output <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">you actually wa=
nt, to tell you what command line would give the output <br></div><div dir=
=3D"ltr">you want.&nbsp; The --debug option can be great at learning what s=
ort is <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">actually doing (and how it is more likely=
 that your request is <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">incomplete, rather than so=
rt misbehaving).<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">As su=
ch, I'm closing this as not a bug, as you have not demonstrated an <br></di=
v><div dir=3D"ltr">actual POSIX compliance issue; but do feel free to provi=
de us with more <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">information, and we can reopen t=
his if you actually do come up with <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">something th=
at needs addressing beyond what sort can already do when <br></div><div dir=
=3D"ltr">invoked correctly.<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D=
"ltr">-- <br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Eric Blake, Principal Software Engineer=
<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Red Hat, Inc.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; =
 +1-919-301-3266<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Virtualization:&nbsp; qemu.org |=
 libvirt.org<br></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div=
></div><div id=3D"ymsg25638" class=3D"ymsg1071832426" src=3D"mid://AGLWyQoA=
AB4rWpgnQwm4SPMOd98/3"><div id=3D"yiv2442982841"><div><div style=3D"color:#=
000;background-color:#fff;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Luc=
ida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div id=3D"yiv2442982841yui_3_16_0_=
ym19_1_1519861150505_2033">To: bug-coreutils@HIDDEN<br><br>This seems an o=
versight than an actual bug:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'sort -n' thinks "B"=
 is a larger value than "AA" -- yep! someone<br>forgot about hexadecimal, b=
ut binary, octal, and decimal work fine.<br><br>Suggestion: Don't revert to=
 alphanumeric sorting until the rules are<br>broken by the sort field:<br><=
br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1) There is an optional leading Plus(+) or Minus(-) b=
ut just one.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2) There is an optional single Point(.) =
that may occur anywhere<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; within the =
field except before an optional Plus or Minus.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3) Num=
erals are limited to "0123456789ABCDEFabcdef".<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4) No =
white space, other letters, or other punctuation allowed or<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; revert to alphanumeric sort.<br><br>Thank You,<br>=
J.B.<br><br>P.S.: Shouldn't be necessary to transform data to sort it...<br=
>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Use '-nx' or '-gx' if you must, but it shou=
ldn't be needed.<br><br></div></div></div></div></div><br><br></div>  </div=
> </div>  </div></div></body></html>
------=_Part_8854559_960570759.1519946999362--




Information forwarded to bug-coreutils@HIDDEN:
bug#30661; Package coreutils. Full text available.

Message received at 30661-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org:


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Subject: Re: bug#30661: sort
To: James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>, 30661-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 GNU bug control <control <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
References: <820042476.8030674.1519861379922.ref@HIDDEN>
 <820042476.8030674.1519861379922@HIDDEN>
From: Eric Blake <eblake@HIDDEN>
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tag 30661 notabug
thanks

On 02/28/2018 05:42 PM, James Bunke wrote:
> To: bug-coreutils@HIDDEN
> 
> This seems an oversight than an actual bug:
> 
>      'sort -n' thinks "B" is a larger value than "AA" -- yep! someone
> forgot about hexadecimal, but binary, octal, and decimal work fine.

Please demonstrate an actual command line that you typed and output you 
got.  Here's what I tried in reproducing your claim:

$ printf 'AA\nB\n' | LC_ALL=C sort --debug -n
sort: using simple byte comparison
AA
^ no match for key
__
B
^ no match for key
_

As I typed it, 'sort -n' outputs the line AA before the line B because 
of fallback sorting rules (the entire line is used when none of the keys 
produced a difference, and since neither line was numeric, they were 
equivalently treated as '0' by -n), contrary to your claim that sort 
takes 'B' first.  Therefore, I don't know if my attempt matches what you 
actually saw, as you did not give very many details other than a vague 
verbal description of your issue.

> 
> Suggestion: Don't revert to alphanumeric sorting until the rules are
> broken by the sort field:

Sorry, but 'sort -n' behavior is specified by POSIX, and we can't change 
it, as that would break scripts that expect POSIX behavior.  Most 
likely, sort can already do what you want with additional command line 
options, but I don't even know what data you want sorted, or what output 
you actually want, to tell you what command line would give the output 
you want.  The --debug option can be great at learning what sort is 
actually doing (and how it is more likely that your request is 
incomplete, rather than sort misbehaving).

As such, I'm closing this as not a bug, as you have not demonstrated an 
actual POSIX compliance issue; but do feel free to provide us with more 
information, and we can reopen this if you actually do come up with 
something that needs addressing beyond what sort can already do when 
invoked correctly.

-- 
Eric Blake, Principal Software Engineer
Red Hat, Inc.           +1-919-301-3266
Virtualization:  qemu.org | libvirt.org




Notification sent to James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>:
bug acknowledged by developer. Full text available.
Reply sent to Eric Blake <eblake@HIDDEN>:
You have taken responsibility. Full text available.
Added tag(s) notabug. Request was from Eric Blake <eblake@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.

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Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:42:59 +0000 (UTC)
From: James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>
To: "bug-coreutils@HIDDEN" <bug-coreutils@HIDDEN>
Message-ID: <820042476.8030674.1519861379922@HIDDEN>
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------=_Part_8030673_1276334331.1519861379920
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To: bug-coreutils@HIDDEN

This seems an oversight than an actual bug:

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 'sort -n' thinks "B" is a larger value than "AA" -- yep!=
 someone
forgot about hexadecimal, but binary, octal, and decimal work fine.

Suggestion: Don't revert to alphanumeric sorting until the rules are
broken by the sort field:

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 1) There is an optional leading Plus(+) or Minus(-) but =
just one.
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 2) There is an optional single Point(.) that may occur a=
nywhere
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 within the field except before an opti=
onal Plus or Minus.
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 3) Numerals are limited to "0123456789ABCDEFabcdef".
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 4) No white space, other letters, or other punctuation a=
llowed or
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 revert to alphanumeric sort.

Thank You,
J.B.

P.S.: Shouldn't be necessary to transform data to sort it...
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Use '-nx' or '-gx' if you must, but it shoul=
dn't be needed.


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<html><head></head><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; f=
ont-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font=
-size:13px"><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1519861150505_2033">To: bug-coreut=
ils@HIDDEN<br><br>This seems an oversight than an actual bug:<br><br>&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'sort -n' thinks "B" is a larger value than "AA" -- yep! some=
one<br>forgot about hexadecimal, but binary, octal, and decimal work fine.<=
br><br>Suggestion: Don't revert to alphanumeric sorting until the rules are=
<br>broken by the sort field:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1) There is an opti=
onal leading Plus(+) or Minus(-) but just one.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2) The=
re is an optional single Point(.) that may occur anywhere<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=
bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; within the field except before an optional Plus or M=
inus.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3) Numerals are limited to "0123456789ABCDEFabc=
def".<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4) No white space, other letters, or other punc=
tuation allowed or<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; revert to alphan=
umeric sort.<br><br>Thank You,<br>J.B.<br><br>P.S.: Shouldn't be necessary =
to transform data to sort it...<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Use '-nx'=
 or '-gx' if you must, but it shouldn't be needed.<br><br></div></div></bod=
y></html>
------=_Part_8030673_1276334331.1519861379920--




Acknowledgement sent to James Bunke <james_a_bunke@HIDDEN>:
New bug report received and forwarded. Copy sent to bug-coreutils@HIDDEN. Full text available.
Report forwarded to bug-coreutils@HIDDEN:
bug#30661; Package coreutils. Full text available.
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Last modified: Mon, 25 Nov 2019 12:00:02 UTC

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Copyright (C) 1999 Darren O. Benham, 1997 nCipher Corporation Ltd, 1994-97 Ian Jackson.