SUMMARY:

SV  is  a  "simple"  sort  program  for  variable  length  (CR/LF
terminated)  record  files.  It defaults to sorting from the  1st
char  in the line,  but can skip past any  particular  characters
that occur.   The file being sorted must fit in memory.   You may
write back to the input file, or to another.

SYNTAX:
     To write back to file in place:   SV name
     To write to another: SV inputname outputname

EXAMPLES:  To sort "files.nam" into sequence:  SV FILES.NAM;   To
sort a list of names by filetype:  SV NAMES.DIR @.  The "@" means
to  sort "at",  and the "." means at the period.   EACH line must
have  the skip-character specified.   To sort a file  skipping  a
period,  a comma,  and 2 spaces:  "SV NAME @.,  " where you put 2
spaces after the ",".

If  you should want to use a tab as a skip  character,  you  must
either  specify an output filename,  or use a single "." for  the
output  name  (causes input to be overlaid with output)  This  is
because  CP/M doesn't like having a control character in a  place
it  considers to be a filename (one of its two it may take  on  a
command).  Thus to skip a tab, a period, and another tab, writing
"FILE"  back to itself:   SV FILE .  @^I.^I  where "^I" means you
pressed the "tab" key.  If you typed:  SV FILE @^I.^I CP/M  would
reject  the command because it thinks you are putting a tab  into
the second (output) filename.

WILDCARDING exists in the form of '?'s.  That is SV FILE . @?????
will sort on the six character  position of the file.   Similarly
SV FILE FILE2 @.?? will sort on the third position following  the
first period in the file.  This of course also means that the '?'
may not be used as a skip character.