How to UNIX sort by one column only?
I know that the -k option for the Unix sort allow us to sort by a specific column and all of the following. For instance, given the input file:
2 3
2 2
1 2
2 1
1 1
Using sort -n -k 1
, I get an output sorted by the 1st column and then by the 2nd:
1 1
1 2
2 1
2 2
2 3
However, I want to keep the 2nd column ordering, like this:
1 2
1 1
2 3
2 2
2 1
Is this possible with the sort
command?
unix sorting
migrated from stackoverflow.com Sep 1 '09 at 4:49
This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
add a comment |
I know that the -k option for the Unix sort allow us to sort by a specific column and all of the following. For instance, given the input file:
2 3
2 2
1 2
2 1
1 1
Using sort -n -k 1
, I get an output sorted by the 1st column and then by the 2nd:
1 1
1 2
2 1
2 2
2 3
However, I want to keep the 2nd column ordering, like this:
1 2
1 1
2 3
2 2
2 1
Is this possible with the sort
command?
unix sorting
migrated from stackoverflow.com Sep 1 '09 at 4:49
This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
add a comment |
I know that the -k option for the Unix sort allow us to sort by a specific column and all of the following. For instance, given the input file:
2 3
2 2
1 2
2 1
1 1
Using sort -n -k 1
, I get an output sorted by the 1st column and then by the 2nd:
1 1
1 2
2 1
2 2
2 3
However, I want to keep the 2nd column ordering, like this:
1 2
1 1
2 3
2 2
2 1
Is this possible with the sort
command?
unix sorting
I know that the -k option for the Unix sort allow us to sort by a specific column and all of the following. For instance, given the input file:
2 3
2 2
1 2
2 1
1 1
Using sort -n -k 1
, I get an output sorted by the 1st column and then by the 2nd:
1 1
1 2
2 1
2 2
2 3
However, I want to keep the 2nd column ordering, like this:
1 2
1 1
2 3
2 2
2 1
Is this possible with the sort
command?
unix sorting
unix sorting
edited Mar 15 '10 at 0:25
Peter Mortensen
8,371166185
8,371166185
asked Aug 31 '09 at 16:20
ssnssn
323136
323136
migrated from stackoverflow.com Sep 1 '09 at 4:49
This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
migrated from stackoverflow.com Sep 1 '09 at 4:49
This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Give this a try:
sort -s -n -k 1,1
The -s
disables 'last-resort' sorting, which sorts on everything that wasn't part of a specified key.
The -k 1
doesn't actually mean "this field and all of the following" in the context of numeric sort, as you can see if you try to sort on the second column. You're merely seeing ties broken by going to the rest of the line. In general, however, you need to specify -k 1,1
to sort only on field one.
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement ofjoin
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.
– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
1
The-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is-s -k 1
, with-n
if you need it.
– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
|
show 2 more comments
To only sort on the first column you should do:
sort -n -s -k1,1
From Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
sort accepts the key specification -k3 (rather than -k3,3), but it probably doesn’t do what you expect. Without the terminating field number, the sort key continues to the end of the line
Not working for me, I need to add the-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."
– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
add a comment |
None of the provided answers work generally for me.
Both sort -s -k 2 file1
and sort -n -k1,1
do additional sorting with this file:
# cat file1
3 3 5
3 2 3
1 4 7
0 1 2
3 2 1
I just had to do this exact thing and ended up using a shell loop.
This solution might not work well on a very large file because the entire
file needs to be read for each unique value in the sorted column.
Here the file is sorted on column 2 only.
# awk '{print $2}' file1 | sort | uniq | while read index
do
awk -v var=$index '$2 == var { print $0}' file1
done
0 1 2
3 2 3
3 2 1
3 3 5
1 4 7
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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oldest
votes
Give this a try:
sort -s -n -k 1,1
The -s
disables 'last-resort' sorting, which sorts on everything that wasn't part of a specified key.
The -k 1
doesn't actually mean "this field and all of the following" in the context of numeric sort, as you can see if you try to sort on the second column. You're merely seeing ties broken by going to the rest of the line. In general, however, you need to specify -k 1,1
to sort only on field one.
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement ofjoin
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.
– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
1
The-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is-s -k 1
, with-n
if you need it.
– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
|
show 2 more comments
Give this a try:
sort -s -n -k 1,1
The -s
disables 'last-resort' sorting, which sorts on everything that wasn't part of a specified key.
The -k 1
doesn't actually mean "this field and all of the following" in the context of numeric sort, as you can see if you try to sort on the second column. You're merely seeing ties broken by going to the rest of the line. In general, however, you need to specify -k 1,1
to sort only on field one.
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement ofjoin
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.
– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
1
The-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is-s -k 1
, with-n
if you need it.
– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
|
show 2 more comments
Give this a try:
sort -s -n -k 1,1
The -s
disables 'last-resort' sorting, which sorts on everything that wasn't part of a specified key.
The -k 1
doesn't actually mean "this field and all of the following" in the context of numeric sort, as you can see if you try to sort on the second column. You're merely seeing ties broken by going to the rest of the line. In general, however, you need to specify -k 1,1
to sort only on field one.
Give this a try:
sort -s -n -k 1,1
The -s
disables 'last-resort' sorting, which sorts on everything that wasn't part of a specified key.
The -k 1
doesn't actually mean "this field and all of the following" in the context of numeric sort, as you can see if you try to sort on the second column. You're merely seeing ties broken by going to the rest of the line. In general, however, you need to specify -k 1,1
to sort only on field one.
edited Jul 18 '13 at 15:54
answered Aug 31 '09 at 16:28
CascabelCascabel
1,0451014
1,0451014
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement ofjoin
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.
– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
1
The-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is-s -k 1
, with-n
if you need it.
– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
|
show 2 more comments
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement ofjoin
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.
– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
1
The-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is-s -k 1
, with-n
if you need it.
– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
You are right. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
– ssn
Aug 31 '09 at 16:31
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
is it possible to use join on the output of this sort?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 27 '12 at 20:13
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement of
join
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
@MiNdFrEaK: The requirement of
join
is that the input be sorted on the fields you're joining on. So sure, this output is sorted on the first field, and you can join on it.– Cascabel
Sep 27 '12 at 21:49
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
I have 2 files, one having 2 columns, another having 1 column. The second file is sorted using sort -u. Now the task is I need to join this column with the first column of the first file, which is not sorted, so what will be the syntax? will this work? join -j 1 file2.txt sort -s -n -k 1 file1.txt?
– MiNdFrEaK
Sep 28 '12 at 4:10
1
1
The
-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is -s -k 1
, with -n
if you need it.– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
The
-k 1,1
(the ",1" part) doesn't work any better for me. What works is -s -k 1
, with -n
if you need it.– Totor
Aug 8 '13 at 15:12
|
show 2 more comments
To only sort on the first column you should do:
sort -n -s -k1,1
From Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
sort accepts the key specification -k3 (rather than -k3,3), but it probably doesn’t do what you expect. Without the terminating field number, the sort key continues to the end of the line
Not working for me, I need to add the-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."
– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
add a comment |
To only sort on the first column you should do:
sort -n -s -k1,1
From Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
sort accepts the key specification -k3 (rather than -k3,3), but it probably doesn’t do what you expect. Without the terminating field number, the sort key continues to the end of the line
Not working for me, I need to add the-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."
– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
add a comment |
To only sort on the first column you should do:
sort -n -s -k1,1
From Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
sort accepts the key specification -k3 (rather than -k3,3), but it probably doesn’t do what you expect. Without the terminating field number, the sort key continues to the end of the line
To only sort on the first column you should do:
sort -n -s -k1,1
From Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
sort accepts the key specification -k3 (rather than -k3,3), but it probably doesn’t do what you expect. Without the terminating field number, the sort key continues to the end of the line
edited Jan 9 at 10:10
answered Oct 16 '12 at 13:59
tidbecktidbeck
1,1151215
1,1151215
Not working for me, I need to add the-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."
– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
add a comment |
Not working for me, I need to add the-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."
– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
Not working for me, I need to add the
-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
Not working for me, I need to add the
-s
option as Cascabel pointed out.– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:08
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for
-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
@JeanPaul you are right, the documentation for
-s
says "This option maintains the original record order of records that have an equal key."– tidbeck
Jan 9 at 10:09
add a comment |
None of the provided answers work generally for me.
Both sort -s -k 2 file1
and sort -n -k1,1
do additional sorting with this file:
# cat file1
3 3 5
3 2 3
1 4 7
0 1 2
3 2 1
I just had to do this exact thing and ended up using a shell loop.
This solution might not work well on a very large file because the entire
file needs to be read for each unique value in the sorted column.
Here the file is sorted on column 2 only.
# awk '{print $2}' file1 | sort | uniq | while read index
do
awk -v var=$index '$2 == var { print $0}' file1
done
0 1 2
3 2 3
3 2 1
3 3 5
1 4 7
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
add a comment |
None of the provided answers work generally for me.
Both sort -s -k 2 file1
and sort -n -k1,1
do additional sorting with this file:
# cat file1
3 3 5
3 2 3
1 4 7
0 1 2
3 2 1
I just had to do this exact thing and ended up using a shell loop.
This solution might not work well on a very large file because the entire
file needs to be read for each unique value in the sorted column.
Here the file is sorted on column 2 only.
# awk '{print $2}' file1 | sort | uniq | while read index
do
awk -v var=$index '$2 == var { print $0}' file1
done
0 1 2
3 2 3
3 2 1
3 3 5
1 4 7
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
add a comment |
None of the provided answers work generally for me.
Both sort -s -k 2 file1
and sort -n -k1,1
do additional sorting with this file:
# cat file1
3 3 5
3 2 3
1 4 7
0 1 2
3 2 1
I just had to do this exact thing and ended up using a shell loop.
This solution might not work well on a very large file because the entire
file needs to be read for each unique value in the sorted column.
Here the file is sorted on column 2 only.
# awk '{print $2}' file1 | sort | uniq | while read index
do
awk -v var=$index '$2 == var { print $0}' file1
done
0 1 2
3 2 3
3 2 1
3 3 5
1 4 7
None of the provided answers work generally for me.
Both sort -s -k 2 file1
and sort -n -k1,1
do additional sorting with this file:
# cat file1
3 3 5
3 2 3
1 4 7
0 1 2
3 2 1
I just had to do this exact thing and ended up using a shell loop.
This solution might not work well on a very large file because the entire
file needs to be read for each unique value in the sorted column.
Here the file is sorted on column 2 only.
# awk '{print $2}' file1 | sort | uniq | while read index
do
awk -v var=$index '$2 == var { print $0}' file1
done
0 1 2
3 2 3
3 2 1
3 3 5
1 4 7
edited Dec 30 '16 at 18:49
MJH
1,02941018
1,02941018
answered Dec 30 '16 at 17:47
user680341user680341
211
211
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
add a comment |
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
sort -s -k2,2 file1
– plhn
Feb 24 '17 at 10:22
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
The answer proposed by Cascabel is working but I think you missread it.
– Jean Paul
Jan 7 at 17:11
add a comment |
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