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Old 05-14-2016, 03:57 PM   #1
PleaseHelpMeUnderstand
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Sort Command


I want to sort the information a file by file size with the file size is in the 5th field from the left.

I have researched man sort but I am still not comprehending how to do this. Please help. Please and thank you
 
Old 05-14-2016, 04:08 PM   #2
arizonagroovejet
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What have you tried so far? If I understand what you want to do correctly, you don't need the sort command, you can do it with ls.
 
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Old 05-14-2016, 04:10 PM   #3
PleaseHelpMeUnderstand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arizonagroovejet View Post
What have you tried so far? If I understand what you want to do correctly, you don't need the sort command, you can do it with ls.
the file is called etclist. So far I tried ls -lSh and I also tried ls -lSh ~/etclist
 
Old 05-14-2016, 04:19 PM   #4
arizonagroovejet
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PleaseHelpMeUnderstand View Post
the file is called etclist. So far I tried ls -lSh and I also tried ls -lSh ~/etclist
When you post commands and such like, use CODE tags for readability. E.g.
Code:
ls -lSh ~/etclist
Look for the # button when composing your post.

ls isn't going to show you the contents of a file. I didn't understand what you want to do correctly, I pretty much ignored "I want to sort the information a file" part of your post because it didn't make sense to me, I thought you were trying to sort a directory listing, rather than a directory listing that's in a file. I think the -k and -n options of sort are what you want. Maybe this
Code:
sort -k5 -n ~/etclist
It might help if you posted part of the file in question.
 
Old 05-14-2016, 04:22 PM   #5
PleaseHelpMeUnderstand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arizonagroovejet View Post
When you post commands and such like, use CODE tags for readability. E.g.
Code:
ls -lSh ~/etclist
Look for the # button when composing your post.

ls isn't going to show you the contents of a file. I didn't understand what you want to do correctly, I pretty much ignored "I want to sort the information a file" part of your post because it didn't make sense to me, I thought you were trying to sort a directory listing, rather than a directory listing that's in a file. I think the -k and -n options of sort are what you want. Maybe this
Code:
sort -k5 -n ~/etclist
It might help if you posted part of the file in question.
lol you're right it didn't make sense now that I've re-read it. This is what I needed. Thank you kindly
 
  


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