SORT Adds Extra Character to Sorted Output (104731)


The information in this article applies to:
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q104731

SUMMARY

SORT adds an extra character to the end of the file being sorted if an end-of-file (EOF) or carriage return (<CR>) character is missing from the end of the file.

MORE INFORMATION

Some text editors don't automatically add a <CR> or EOF character to the end of the file (unlike MS-DOS Edit).

If you use this type of editor and your file doesn't have a trailing <CR> or EOF character, your sorted file contains an extra character. For example, if you sort the following file (which does not have an EOF or <CR> character at the end of the file) 
   AA<CR>
   BB<CR>
   CC<CR>
   AA
with the command SORT < TEXT.TXT > TESTOUT.TXT, your sorted output is 
   AA<CR>
   AAx<CR>
   BB<CR>
   CC<CR>
where x is a random character from memory.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, edit the file you want to sort and add a <CR> to the end.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, and 6.21. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 5/6/2003
Keywords: KB104731
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