topic Re: Need help in sort:“sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys” in Operating System - Linux

Need help in sort:“sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys”

Srinivas Sreekumar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:34:55 GMT

Hello,
Can someone help me in resolving following error, “sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys”?
We have Hp Unix B.11.11 U 9000/800 with perl, v5.8.0
Thanks in Advance

Regards
Srini

Re: Need help in sort:“sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys”

Peter Godron — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:41:40 GMT

Hi,
see "man sort":
"A maximum of 9 -k options can be given"

You are trying to sort the file by too many keys. Reduce the number of keys.

Re: Need help in sort:“sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys”

James R. Ferguson — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:51:35 GMT

Hi Srini:

You have an opportunity to improve your sort times let alone handle the necessary number of sort keys.

Before sorting, construct a sort key at the end or at the beginning of your records that consists of the multiple keys you need stated in the relative order of sort importance.

Then, sort on the manufactured single key. Trim the sort key from your record before you create your output.

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: Need help in sort:“sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys”

Dennis Handly — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:22:27 GMT

>JRF: You have an opportunity to improve your sort times ...that consists of the multiple keys

If this was an industrial strength sort routine, it would already do that. ;-)
At least that's what the system sort on MPE/iX did.

You are probably correct that sort(1) doesn't do that.

Re: Need help in sort:“sort: Cannot use more than 9 sort keys”

Srinivas Sreekumar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:17:10 GMT

I have changed the code.
Thanks for suggestion.

Regards
Srini