Record Sorting with split 1

[grapnell]

I am trying to write a function to sort multiple columns of data in a cgi script, however, I am not having any success.

the function I am using is as follows:

@ass_temp = sort {
    (split '\|', $a, 1)[2] cmp
    (split '\|', $b, 1)[2]
  } @assignment;
@assignment = @ass_temp;

and the data array looks like the following, with each line representing one element of the array in @assignment...

31|accounting|8/18/2006|c|10113|robert trigg||2|
32|accounting|8/21/2006|c|19654|13007||2|
33|accounting|8/21/2006|c|2047|steve||2|
35|accounting|8/21/2006|c|9000|macray||2|
36|accounting|8/21/2006|c|23892|calvin|rush|2|
37|accounting|8/21/2006|c|30006|JAMES||2|
38|accounting|8/22/2006|c|11184|sonny|rush|2|

I am trying to be able to sort by the first or fifth column, among others, but the code I have written above has no effect on the array.

Not sure what exactly what is wrong, or right for that matter.
ANy help appreciated,

Jeff

 

[KevinADC]

This would sort on the fifth column

my @ass_temp = map {$_->[0]}
               sort{$a->[5] <=> $b->[5]}
               map {chomp; [$_,split(/\|/)]} <DATA>;
print "$_\n" for @ass_temp;
__DATA__
31|accounting|8/18/2006|c|10113|robert trigg||2|
32|accounting|8/21/2006|c|19654|13007||2|
33|accounting|8/21/2006|c|2047|steve||2|
35|accounting|8/21/2006|c|9000|macray||2|
36|accounting|8/21/2006|c|23892|calvin|rush|2|
37|accounting|8/21/2006|c|30006|JAMES||2|
38|accounting|8/22/2006|c|11184|sonny|rush|2|

I used [5] instead of [4] for the fifth column because [0] is a copy of the original lines of the data which gets put into @ass_temp once the data is sorted.

 

[ishnid]

The Sort::Fields module is tailor-made for this.

 

[1DMF]

nice one ishnid

"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you.