SORT Windows Command Guide

The Windows sort command is used to alphabetically sort the contents of a text file and display the results in the Command Prompt window. This command is helpful for organizing data in a specific order based on characters or numbers. By default, the sort command arranges the text in ascending order, but you can also specify options to customize the sorting process.

SORT Syntax:

sort [option] [file]

Options:

Option	Description
/?	Displays help at the command prompt.
/+n	Skips the first ‘n-1’ fields before sorting.
/R	Reverses the sort order (descending).

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
file	Specifies the file to be sorted.

Caution

Exercise caution when using the sort command in Windows. Ensure you specify the correct file to be sorted to avoid unintentionally altering data.

SORT Command Samples:

Sort a File Alphabetically

sort input.txt

This command sorts the lines in the file “input.txt” in alphabetical order.

Sort a File Numerically

sort /n input.txt

Sorts the lines in the file “input.txt” numerically.

Sort File in Reverse Order

sort /r input.txt

Arranges the lines in the file “input.txt” in reverse order.

Sort Multiple Files and Display Unique Lines

sort /u file1.txt file2.txt

Combines and sorts the contents of “file1.txt” and “file2.txt,” displaying only unique lines.

Sort and Output to a New File

sort input.txt > sorted_output.txt

Sorts the lines in “input.txt” and saves the sorted output to a new file named “sorted_output.txt.”

Case-Insensitive Sorting

sort /i input.txt

Sorts the content in “input.txt” while ignoring differences in case sensitivity.

Sort a File with Custom Delimiter

sort /t"," /+2 input.csv

Sorts the lines in a CSV file “input.csv” using a comma as the delimiter and starting from the third column.

Tip

When using the sort command in Windows, make sure to specify the correct options or values to achieve the desired sorting behavior. Experiment with different options to get familiar with the command’s capabilities.

SORT FAQ:

How do I use sort in Windows?

To use the sort command in Windows, execute the following command:

sort <filename>

How can I sort a file in reverse order in Windows?

To sort a file in reverse order using the sort command in Windows, you can use the /r option. Here’s an example:

sort /r <filename>

What is the command to sort a file and remove duplicate lines in Windows?

To sort a file and remove duplicate lines using the sort command in Windows, you can use the /unique option. Here’s an example:

sort /unique <filename>

How can I sort a file numerically in Windows?

To sort a file numerically using the sort command in Windows, you can use the /n option. Here’s an example:

sort /n <filename>

How do I ignore leading blanks when sorting in Windows?

To ignore leading blanks when sorting in Windows using the sort command, you can use the /+<n> option where <n> is the number of characters to ignore. Here’s an example:

sort /+2 <filename>

Can I sort multiple files at once in Windows using the sort command?

Yes, you can sort multiple files at once in Windows using the sort command by specifying the filenames separated by spaces. Here’s an example:

sort file1.txt file2.txt

Applications of the SORT Command

• Arrange data in alphabetical order
• Sort data in descending order
• Remove duplicates from a list
• Organize data in numerical order
• Merge and sort multiple files
• Customize sorting criteria with different options