Linux / Unix: Sort Specific Field or Column

Author: Vivek Gite Last updated: November 17, 2012 0 comments

How do I sort output of find . -type f -iname "pattern*" -ls command by seventh column in Linux? Sample input:

7782638 15084 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 15422474 Aug 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201107.html 7782637 14504 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 14830464 Jul 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201106.html 7782643 14408 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 14730488 Dec 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201111.html 7782640 19656 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 20101379 Oct 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201109.html 7782634 17588 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 17985190 Apr 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201103.html 7782641 20796 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 21263382 Nov 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201110.html 7798789 13296 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 13590695 Mar 1 2012 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201202.html 7798788 12220 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 12495686 Feb 1 2012 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201201.html 5701709 1648 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 1681600 Nov 1 11:14 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201210.html 7798802 8944 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 9138603 Jun 1 10:13 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201205.html 5701710 648 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 657811 Nov 10 11:13 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201211.html 7798805 7360 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7523891 Sep 1 10:11 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201208.html 7323999 776 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 787924 Jun 12 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200605.html 7324001 140 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 139058 Aug 22 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200607.html 7324000 44 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 41447 Jun 12 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200606.html 7324003 1972 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 2014614 Oct 1 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200609.html 7356496 3136 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 3205737 Dec 1 2007 ./logserver42/2007/hsbcreports_200711.html

I need the following output:

7324000 44 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7324001 140 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 5701710 648 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7323999 776 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 5701709 1648 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7324003 1972 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7356496 3136 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7798805 7360 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7798802 8944 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom tom 7798788 12220 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7798789 13296 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7782643 14408 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7782637 14504 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7782638 15084 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7782634 17588 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7782640 19656 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom 7782641 20796 -rw-r--r-- 1 tom

You need to use sort command sort -n -k 7 /path/to/inp OR find . -type f -iname OR find . -type f -iname tom 41447 Jun 12 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200606.html 139058 Aug 22 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200607.html 657811 Nov 10 11:13 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201211.html 787924 Jun 12 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200605.html 1681600 Nov 1 11:14 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201210.html 2014614 Oct 1 2006 ./logserver42/2006/hsbcreports_200609.html 3205737 Dec 1 2007 ./logserver42/2007/hsbcreports_200711.html 7523891 Sep 1 10:11 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201208.html 9138603 Jun 1 10:13 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201205.html tom 12495686 Feb 1 2012 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201201.html tom 13590695 Mar 1 2012 ./logserver42/2012/hsbcreports_201202.html tom 14730488 Dec 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201111.html tom 14830464 Jul 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201106.html tom 15422474 Aug 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201107.html tom 17985190 Apr 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201103.html tom 20101379 Oct 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201109.html tom 21263382 Nov 1 2011 ./logserver42/2011/hsbcreports_201110.html as follows: ut "pattern*" -ls |sort -n -k 7 "pattern*" -ls |sort -r -n -k 7

Tutorial details
Difficulty	Easy (rss)
Root privileges	No
Requirements	sort command
Time	N/A

Where,

-r – Reverse the result of sort.
-n – Numeric sort
-k 7 – Start a key at POS1 i.e. start sort key at # 7
-s – Stabilize sort by disabling last-resort comparison

🐧 If you liked this page, please support my work on Patreon or with a donation.
🐧 Get the latest tutorials on SysAdmin, Linux/Unix, Open Source/DevOps topics:

RSS feed or Weekly email newsletter
Share on Twitter • Facebook • 0 comments... add one ↓

UP NEXT

Category	List of Unix and Linux commands
File Management	cat
Firewall	Alpine Awall • CentOS 8 • OpenSUSE • RHEL 8 • Ubuntu 16.04 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04
Network Utilities	dig • host • ip • nmap
OpenVPN	CentOS 7 • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Debian 8/9 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04
Package Manager	apk • apt
Processes Management	bg • chroot • cron • disown • fg • jobs • killall • kill • pidof • pstree • pwdx • time
Searching	grep • whereis • which
User Information	groups • id • lastcomm • last • lid/libuser-lid • logname • members • users • whoami • who • w
WireGuard VPN	Alpine • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04