This is actually related to the earlier "Data Structure Advice" post.

I received some great advice, but now I realize I have to sort on a third column that consists of characters.

This is the code I'm using for the sort routine:

@data = numeric_sorter(2,0, @data);
&print;

# Print the contents of the array
sub print {
    foreach my $record (@data  ) {
        for my $i (0 .. 4) {
            print $record->[$i] . " ";
        }
        print "\n";
    }
}

# First sort using the 3rd element of the array(port) and if it's the 
+same
# sort by looking at the 1st element(time)
sub numeric_sorter {
    my ($field_num, $field_num_secondary, @data) = @_;

    my @sorted_items = sort {
        if ($a->[$field_num] != $b->[$field_num]) {
        $a->[$field_num] <=> $b->[$field_num]
        } 
        else {
        $a->[$field_num_secondary] <=> $b->[$field_num_secondary] 
        }
    } @data;

    return @sorted_items;
}
[download]

Is it possible to sort the fourth col., after a tie on the first column ?

BEFORE SORT:
   col1    col2 col3 col4     col 5
1040564312  z   89   In    258381720
1040564312  z   89   Out   4194077715
1040564322  z   90   Out   4194081727
1040564322  z   90   In    258385268
1040564335  z   94   IN    4194085256
1040564335  z   94   Out   4194085196


DESIRED SORT: (col4)
 col1    col2 col3 col4     col 5
1040564312  z   89   In    258381720
1040564312  z   89   Out   4194077715
1040564322  z   90   In    258385268
1040564322  z   90   Out   4194081727
1040564335  z   94   IN    4194085256
1040564335  z   94   Out   4194085196
[download]