SORT command

Syntax: | `SORT x { x1 x2 ... }`
Qualifiers: | `\UP, \DOWN`
Defaults: | `\UP`

The `SORT` command sorts vectors into ascending or descending order. By default, the vector `x` is sorted into ascending order. Ascending order means that element `1` will be the smallest element. To sort vector `x` into descending order, use the `\DOWN` qualifier. Descending order means that element `1` will be the largest. Vector `x` will be altered. If other vectors, `xI`, are entered, then they will not be sorted, but they will be re-arranged in the same way that `x` is re-arranged. For example, if element `x[i]` becomes `x[j]` because of sorting, then `xI[i]` will become `xI[j]`.

Example 1

Suppose you have a data vector, `X = [1;2;3;4;5]`
To sort `X` into descending order, enter:

`SORT\DOWN X`

after which `X = [5;4;3;2;1]`

Example 2

Suppose you have three data vectors, `X`, `Y`, and `Z`, which represent rectangular coordinates and an associated altitude: `X = [1;2;3;4;5]`, `Y = [10;8;6;4;2]`, `Z = [-.3;-1;-.5;2;-2]`

If you want to sort `Z` into descending order, without breaking up the triplets, enter:

`SORT\DOWN Z X Y`

After which the vectors are: `X = [4;1;3;2;5]`, `Y = [4;10;6;8;2]`, `Z = [2;-.3;-.5;-1;-2]`

Example 3

Suppose you have three data vectors, `X`, `Y`, and `Z`, which represent rectangular coordinates and an associated altitude: `X = [1;2;3;4;5]`, `Y = [10;8;6;4;2]`, `Z = [-.3;-1;-.5;2;-2]`

If you want to sort `Y` into ascending order, without breaking up the triplets, enter:

`SORT\DOWN Y X Z`

After which the vectors are: `X = [5;4;3;2;1]`, `Y = [2;4;6;8;10]`, `Z = [-2;2;-.5;-1;-.3]`