my $mask=/_(\d\d)_/; sub sorter ($$){ my ($am,$bm); $_[0] =~ /$mask/; $am=$1; '' =~ /()/; # A match that always succeeds $_[1] =~ /$mask/; $bm=$1; $am <=> $bm || $am cmp $bm; } @result = sort sorter @f;