#!/usr/local/bin/perl -wd $x = { z => [ 'lucy', 'umcp', '1999', '2000', 'z' ], a => [ 'charlie', 'umuc', '2001', '1999', 'a' ], x => [ 'schroeder', 'umbc', '1976', '2005', 'e' ], }; @b = sort { $a cmp $b } keys %$x; @c = sort { $x->{$a}[0] cmp $x->{$b}[0] } keys %$x; @d = sort { $x->{$a}[2] cmp $x->{$b}[2] } keys %$x; print "done";