What do you mean by a shuffle 'based on the first field'? I'd think in terms of shuffling whole records, and a random ordering doesn't usually depend on values.
Given the file size you mention, slurping to an array and hitting it with Fisher-Yates sounds like the right way to do it. What goes wrong with your attempt?
After Compline,
Zaxo
In reply to Re: Shuffle flat file
by Zaxo
in thread Shuffle flat file
by JimJx
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