sort() function

The sort() function sorts an attribute or value mark delimited str.exp in ascending order.

Syntax

sort(str.exp{{,ac.exp{,vc.exp}}; 'sequence.exp'})

Parameter(s)

`str.exp`	String, attribute or value mark to sort in sequence order.
`ac.exp`	Attribute (or, the attribute that contains the value or subvalue) that contains the specified `str.exp` to sort. If `ac.exp` is used, the `sequence.exp` is required.
`vc.exp`	Value (or, the value that contains the subvalue) that contains the specified `str.exp` to sort.
`'sequence.exp'`	Sequence expression. This expression must be surrounded by quotes. Note: Non-integer numbers as well as mixing numeric and non-numeric data types may return unexpected results.
	al	Pseudo left-justified ascending sort.
	ar	Pseudo right-justified ascending sort.
	dl	Pseudo left-justified descending sort.
	dr	Pseudo right-justified descending sort.

Description

If the expression contains both attribute and value marks, this function replaces all marks with the type first encountered.

A second sort() function is available that works in a manner similar to the locate statement. In this expanded version, the user can specify in which attribute, and/or value the list resides as well as the sort sequence to use.

The sort() function performs a left-aligned string sort only. For example:

string = "1" : @vm : "2" : @vm : "11" : @vm : "100"
crt "before " : string
string = sort(string)
crt "after " : string

displays:

before 1]2]11]100
after 1]100]11]2

string = "-1": @vm: "-21": @vm: "-3"
crt "before ": string
string = sort(string)
crt "after ": string

displays:

before -1]-21]-3
after -1]-21]-3

Example(s)

list=’zebra’:@vm:’albatross’:@vm:’gooney bird’:@vm:’elephant’
newlist=sort(list)

The variable newlist contains the string:

albatross]elephant]gooney bird]zebra

The ] represents a value mark.

The following example illustrates the use of the 'sequence.exp'.

nums = 1:@vm:10:@vm:11:@vm:12:@vm:2:@vm:13:@vm:3
sortednums = sort(nums, 1; 'ar')
crt sortednums

displays:

1]2]3]10]11]12]13

sort() function

Syntax

Parameter(s)

Description

Example(s)

See also