Options for GNU `sort'
**********************

     `sort' [-cmuV] [-t c] [-o `file'] [-T `dir']
            [-bdfiMnr] [+n [-m] ...] [`file' ...]

The following is a guide to GNU `sort', *not* a collection of
*documented options* that can be relied on.

Options affecting all sort keys
===============================

`-c'
     Check sort order  only.

`-m'
     Merge presorted files (avoids resorting of already sorted files,
     which is generally a slow operation).

`-o`file''
     Send output to `file' (overwriting).

`-tc'
     Use c as field separator.

`-T`prefix''
     Use `prefix' as prefix for temporary files (e.g.
     `prefix/sort3141.137'), default is `$TMP'.

`-u'
     Delete duplicate lines from the output.

`-V'
     Print the version string


How to specify the sort keys
============================

Keys are zero based, thus the first field has number 0, and so on.

`+num1.num2'
     Start a new key at character num2 of field num1.

`-num1.num2'
     Extend the key upto (not including) character num2 of field num1.


Options affecting one or all sort keys
======================================

These option apply either globally to all sort keys (if they are
specified before the keys on the command line), or to a single key
(if they are appended to the key specification).

`-b'
     Skip white space.

`-d'
     Dictionary mode: ignore punctuation.

`-f'
     Fold to lowercase.

`-i'
     Ignore nonprinting characters.

`-M'
     Sort as english (three character) month names.

`-n'
     Sort numrically.

`-r'
     Sort in reverse.
