Notepad++: How to Sort Text on a Specific Column

Are you tired of manually sorting large amounts of text data? Notepad++ has got you covered with its built-in TextFX feature. In this article, we will explore how to sort text by length using Notepad++, and also provide an alternative method using the command line.

Method 1: Using Notepad++

Notepad++ is a powerful text editor that offers a variety of features to make your life easier. One such feature is the TextFX menu, which allows you to perform various tasks on your text data. To sort text by length in Notepad++, follow these steps:

1. Open your text file in Notepad++.

2. Go to the TextFX menu and select 'TextFX Tools' > 'Sort lines case sensitive (at column)'.

3. In the Sort Lines dialog box, select 'Length' as the sorting criterion.

4. You can also pre-sort alphabetically for length sorted results to be in alphabetical order.

Once you have selected these options, click 'OK' and your text data will be sorted by character length. If you want to sort the text based on the second word, simply enter a space as the delimiter and select column number 2.

Method 2: Using the Command Line

If you prefer using the command line, you can use the awk and sort commands to achieve the same result. Here's how:

1. Open a terminal window.

2. Run the following command: `awk '{print length}' yourfile.txt | sort -n`

This command will print the length of each line in your text file and then sort them in ascending order.

Tips and Tricks

* To sort text by length in reverse order, simply add the `-r` option to the sort command. For example: `sort -rn`

* If you want to sort text based on multiple columns, separate them with a space and use the `-k` option followed by the column number. For example: `sort -k 2 -k 3`

Sorting text by length is a common task that can be achieved using Notepad++ or the command line. Both methods are easy to use and provide accurate results. Whether you prefer the flexibility of the TextFX menu in Notepad++ or the power of the command line, there's an option for everyone.

So next time you need to sort text by length, remember these simple steps and get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Notepad ++ sort on column