GNU bug report logs - #70532
sort: Mention counting fields from the end

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: sort: Mention counting fields from the end
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:14:02 +0800

In (info "(coreutils) sort invocation") be sure to add an example of a
way or workaround for counting fields from the end of the line. E.g., we
want to sort on the last field, but don't know for sure how many fields
a line might contain. E.g., sort by surname, when lines consist of First
[Middle...] Surname. perl -a uses $F[-1]. so maybe sort(1) could also
use a negative field number. Same for character number.

sort (GNU coreutils) 9.4

Message #8 received at 70532 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
To: Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>, 70532 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#70532: sort: Mention counting fields from the end
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:47:28 +0100

On 23/04/2024 11:14, Dan Jacobson wrote:
> In (info "(coreutils) sort invocation") be sure to add an example of a
> way or workaround for counting fields from the end of the line. E.g., we
> want to sort on the last field, but don't know for sure how many fields
> a line might contain. E.g., sort by surname, when lines consist of First
> [Middle...] Surname. perl -a uses $F[-1]. so maybe sort(1) could also
> use a negative field number. Same for character number.

All good suggestions. I'll at least add an example along the lines of:

  awk '{print $NF, $0}' | sort -k1,1 | cut -f2- -d' '

cheers,
Pádraig.

Message #11 received at 70532 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
To: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
Cc: 70532 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#70532: sort: Mention counting fields from the end
Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:46:25 +0800

>>>>> "PB" == Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com> writes:
PB> All good suggestions. I'll at least add an example along the lines of:

PB>   awk '{print $NF, $0}' | sort -k1,1 | cut -f2- -d' '

OK, also say what it's doing. Not everybody knows awk.

Also join(1) needs a tip added. Users might want to join on
e.g., the second to last field on a variable-number-of-fields file.

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