Then something like the matching given by Laurent_R below and johngg as well are likely the best approach. Basically, you match your sort keys in the string, then pack or sprintf them into a (fixed-length) prefix to your string, let sort do its thing, and then remove the prefix again.

In reply to Re^5: Data with Letter(s) & Number sort query by Corion
in thread Data with Letter(s) & Number sort query by merrymonk

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