1. <apologetically> an ignorance, on my part, of db approaches... <apologetically>
2. an ecommerce webpage where a typical row looks like this:

   <td scope="row">A. millefolium 'Summer Wine'<input type="hidden" name=
   +"I1" value="A. millefolium 'Summer Wine'"></td>
   <td><label for="Q1"><input type="text" id="Q1" name="Q1" size="3" onch
   +ange="calc_item(order,6);"></label></td>
   <td><label for="P1">1 gal <input type="text" id="P1" name="P1" value="
   +3.95" onfocus="this.blur();" size="4"></label></td>
   <td><label for="IT1"><input type="text" id="IT1" name="IT1" value="0" 
   +size="6" onfocus="this.blur();"></label></td>
   [download]

3. a hash, created (using a homebrew script which uses cgi.pm) by posting from a webpage orderform.
   The hash looks like this:

   %form = (
             'IT3' => '6.99',
             'I0' => '0',
             'I3' => '3',
             'Q3' => '1',
             'P0' => '3.95',
             'IT0' => '129.05',
             'P3' => '6.99',
             'Q0' => '40',
             'IT10' => '36.50',
             'P10' => '3.65',
             'I10' => '10',
             'Q10' => '10'
               <... snip>
           );
   [download]

While it's trivial to sort that alphabetically by

foreach(sort keys %form) {
   print "$_ $form{$_} \n";
   }
[download]

I0 0
I10 10
I3 3
IT0 129.05
IT10 36.50
IT3 6.99
P0 3.95
P10 3.65 ...
[download]

But what I really seek is a way to get ALL the elements of the hash back into the same order in which they were submitted (ie, same order as in the intial webpage) -- because after unTainting, valdiating, removing items for which Qn and/or ITn are 0 and so on, the script uses them to populate a confirmation page ("Here's what I think you ordered; OK?)

\t "I[" . 0 . "]" .... "I[" . 570 ."]"
[download]

%form = (
          'I0' => '0',
          'Q0' => '40',
          'P0' => '3.95',
          'IT0' => '129.05',
          'I3' => '3',
          'Q3' => '1',
          'P3' => '6.99',
          'IT3' => '6.99',
          'I10' => '10',
          'Q10' => '10'
          'P10' => '3.65',
          'IT10' => '36.50',
            ...
          'IT647' => 741.34
        );
[download]

...because I don't really have any idea how to create the confirmation page's (600+ products omitting the quant=0 items) otherwise.
 
<++bewilderment> Truth be told, I'm not even sure whether this is a design question, an algorithm question or a reasonable question for the Monestary.
</bewilderment> Nonetheless, I'm seeking pointers and advice. Thanks for reading!