use Data::Dumper;
use List::Util 'shuffle';

# randomized list
my @a1 = shuffle ( '1,5', '3,9', '3,4', '6,2', '8,1' );
# convert to an array of hashes 
my @a2 = map { s/,/,y,/; s/\A/x,/; +{ split /,/ } } @a1;
# sort 'x' values ascending and 'y' values descending
my @a3 = sort { $a->{x} <=> $b->{x} || $b->{y} <=> $a->{y} } @a2;
print Dumper \@a3;
__END__
$VAR1 = [
          {
            'y' => '5',
            'x' => 1
          },
          {
            'y' => 9,
            'x' => 3
          },
          {
            'y' => 4,
            'x' => 3
          },
          {
            'y' => '2',
            'x' => 6
          },
          {
            'y' => '1',
            'x' => 8
          }
        ];

[download]

To understand the array of hashes, see perlreftut. See the documentation for sort and perlop to understand the <=> stuff in there. Of course, it'd be good to know map, split, and the fact that a list can be turned into a hash and back just by pretending that's what it is. You'd also be doing yourself a favor to learn about Data::Dumper and List::Util if you don't know of them already. They're core modules and awesome.

In reply to Re: Sorting array with multiple values per keys by kyle
in thread Sorting array with multiple values per keys by cowgirl

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