#
# initializing variables, opening and reading files, etc
#

# a for loop to parse the file using regex
  $hash{$key}[$index] = {$key_1 => $val_1};
# end of for loop

# writing out the data
foreach my $k (sort keys(%main_hash)) {
  for my ($x = 0; $x < scalar(@{$main_hash{$k}}); $x++) {
    last if ($x + 1 >= scalar(@{$main_hash{$k}}));
    my ($first_key, $first_val) = each(%{$main_hash{$k}[$x]};

# take note of the lines below, where I intend to compare 
# $next_val to $first_val to see which has a larger value, 
# and if so, output a message saying that it's larger, and so on

#    my ($next_key, $next_val) = each(%{$main_hash{$k}[$x+1]}); 
# <== placeholder ==>

# followed by some comparison here, eg if next_val > first_val 
# then do something (you get it)

    print OUTFILE "$first_key : $first_val\n";
  }
}


#
# some other things to do
#