this bit looks overly complex (my formatting)~ 
# Place all the hash data into an array of pipe-seperated values for s
+orting
foreach my $key (keys %test) {
    push @sorted, 
        "$key|$test{$key}->[0]|$test{$key}->[1]|" . 
        "$test{$key}->[2]|$test{$key}->[3]";
}

# Sort the data by the number in the last part of the array.
@sorted = map $_->[1],
    sort { $a->[0] <=> $b->[0] }
        map [ substr($_,rindex($_,'|')+1), $_ ],
        @sorted;

# Put the line breaks back in.
for (@sorted) {
$_ = "$_\n";
}

[download]
you build an array, break it down to sort, then add to it again. how about using element 3 from the array in the hash already for the compare...
why not try something like (untested for errors)~ 
# Sort the data by the number in the last part of the array
@sorted = 
    # return just the hash->key
    map { $_->[1] }
    # compare hash->key->value[3]'s
    sort { $a->[0] <=> $b->[0] }
    # anon array w/ hash->key->value[3], hash->key
    map { [ %test->{$_}->[3], $_ ] }
    # keys from hash
    keys %test;
# rebuild array of pipe-seperated values, and put the line breaks back
+ in
$_.="|$test{$_}[0]|$test{$_}[1]|$test{$_}[2]|$test{$_}[3]\n" for(@sort
+ed);

[download]

~Particle

In reply to Re: Learning to use the hash effectively by particle
in thread Learning to use the hash effectively by Stamp_Guy

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