Sort Lines Numerically Tool

How it is calculated

Each non-empty line is given a sort key: the tool trims the line, removes any leading characters that cannot be part of a number (anything except digits, e, E, ., +, -), and reads a decimal number from what is left. Lines are then sorted ascending by that value, and blank lines are dropped. Lines with equal values keep their original order. A line with no readable number gets the value 0 and so lands among the zeros. Only a dot works as the decimal point, and a thousands comma ends the number, so 1,000 counts as 1. The count shows how many lines were sorted. There is no descending option, so reverse the output yourself if you need it.

Common mistakes

• Putting words before the number. Leading letters are skipped, but the skipping stops at the first e or E, so item 10 and line 3 are read as 0 and are not sorted by their number, while v10 or id: 5 work.
• Using a decimal comma or a thousands separator. 7,5 is read as 7 and 1,000 as 1; write 7.5 and 1000.
• Expecting a number in the middle or at the end of the line to count. Only the number at the start of the line (after any skipped prefix) is used.
• Expecting a descending order, or sorting by a second column. Only ascending order by the first number is offered.
• Expecting blank lines to be preserved. Empty lines are removed, which also lowers the count compared with the lines you pasted.