Re: [h-e-w] RF help using sort-numeric-fields

[Charles Curley]

On Mon, Jun 30, 2003 at 12:29:24PM +0100, Neil Mackie wrote:
> I'm trying to run the function 
>     sort-numeric-fields 
> which the documentation says takes three arguments, 
>     the field to sort, 
>     the beginning of the region to sort and 
>     the end of the region to sort. 
> I'm entering 
>     M-x sort-numeric-fields and <return> 
> expecting to be prompted for the arguments but the function is run as
> soon as I enter <return>. I have tried entering arguments after 
>     M-x sort-numeric-fields 
> but only <return> is accepted. So I'm unable to tell the function which
> fields I wish to sort on.
> 
> I'm doing something wrong but do not know what. Can anyone enlighten
> me?

I'll leave your enlightenment to a higher authority, but make some
suggestions on using the sorting function.

The parameter information is for programmers. To use a function from
the keyboard, do things a bit differently.

First mark the region you want to sort as you normally would mark a
region for any other purpose (killing, e.g.). The region should form
a rectangle, e.g. upper left and lower right limits.

To enter the field number, C-U, enter the field number of the field
you want to sort on. Posative number to coult from the left, negative
to count from the right.

Then M-X sort-numeric-fields.

Try sorting this on field 2:

aaaa 1234 ggggg
bbbb  456 gggg
gggg 3456 hhhhh

> 
> TIA,
> Neil (J Mackie).
> 
> 
> By the end of this year the Radiocommunications Agency and all responsibility
> for regulating the radio spectrum and communications services will become 
> part of Ofcom - the new converged regulator for the communications sector. 
> See the Ofcom transitional website at www.Ofcom.org.uk for more details.
> 
>  
> 
> 

-- 

Charles Curley                  /"\    ASCII Ribbon Campaign
Looking for fine software       \ /    Respect for open standards
and/or writing?                  X     No HTML/RTF in email
http://www.charlescurley.com    / \    No M$ Word docs in email

Key fingerprint = CE5C 6645 A45A 64E4 94C0  809C FFF6 4C48 4ECD DFDB

pgpOglIyTPr9g.pgp
Description: PGP signature