sub compare_dotted_decimal { #----------------------------------------

	my @a = $a =~ /(\d+)\.(\d+)\.*(\d*)\.*(\d*)\.*(\d*)/;
	my @b = $b =~ /(\d+)\.(\d+)\.*(\d*)\.*(\d*)\.*(\d*)/;
	$b[0] <=> $a[0] || $b[1] <=> $a[1] || $b[2] <=> $a[2] || $b[3] <=> $a[3] || $b[4] <=> $a[4];

} #========================================= compare_dotted_decimal ==