How i can sort number from largest to smallest on notepad++

[zweafw]

I’m new on Notepad++ and I want to know how can sort number from largest to smallest. Exemple :

random text | 43 points

Random text | 82 points

Random text | 153 points

And I want the numbers to be sorted from largest to smallest like that

random text | 153 points

Random text | 82 points

Random text | 43 points

Thanks you

[Mark Olson]

@zweafw

Short answer

you can’t do this without a plugin.

Option 1 (only for tabular files)

If your file is a pipe-separated variables file (that is, each line is divided into fields by | characters, which your data looks sorta like), the CSVLint plugin allows you to sort lines by one column.

Option 2

Install the PythonScript plugin and add the following script to that plugin’s scripts folder.

from Npp import editor
import re

def number_after_pipe_in_line(line):
    numstr = line.split('|')[-1]
    return float(numstr)

text = editor.getText()
linesep = re.search('\r?\n|\n', text).group(0)
lines = text.split(linesep)
sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
editor.setText(linesep.join(sorted_by_num))

I’m contemplating turning this script into a general-purpose thing to sort lines by the numeric or text value of any regex search result in that line.

[zweafw]

@Mark-Olson hi thanks for the answer but i have this error when i start the script

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\PythonScript\scripts\trier.py", line 11, in <module>
    sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
  File "C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\PythonScript\scripts\trier.py", line 11, in <lambda>
    sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
  File "C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\PythonScript\scripts\trier.py", line 6, in number_after_pipe_in_line
    return float(numstr)
ValueError: invalid literal for float(): 89 points

[Mark Olson]

@zweafw
bleh, should have read your data more carefullly.

from Npp import editor
import re

def number_after_pipe_in_line(line):
    numstr = re.search(r'\|\s*([+-]?\d+)\s+points?$', line).group(1)
    return float(numstr)

text = editor.getText()
linesep = re.search('\r?\n|\n', text).group(0)
lines = text.split(linesep)
sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
editor.setText(linesep.join(sorted_by_num))

[zweafw]

@Mark-Olson i have this new error :

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\PythonScript\scripts\trier.py", line 11, in <module>
    sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
  File "C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\PythonScript\scripts\trier.py", line 11, in <lambda>
    sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
  File "C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\PythonScript\scripts\trier.py", line 5, in number_after_pipe_in_line
    numstr = re.search(r'\|\s*([+-]?\d+)\s+points?$', line).group(1)
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'group'

[Mark Olson]

@zweafw

from Npp import editor
import re

def number_after_pipe_in_line(line):
    numstr = re.search(r'\|\s*([+-]?\d+)\s+points?$', line)
    if not numstr:
        return float('inf')
    return float(numstr.group(1))

text = editor.getText()
linesep = re.search('\r?\n|\n', text).group(0)
lines = text.split(linesep)
sorted_by_num = sorted(lines, key=lambda x: number_after_pipe_in_line(x))
editor.setText(linesep.join(sorted_by_num))

[zweafw]

@Mark-Olson thx its working but how i can change the script for sort number descending ( from largest to smaller )

The script now its sort number ascending

[Mark Olson]

@zweafw
Since this is first and foremost a Notepad++ forum and not a forum for debugging python program, you can message me in chat or you can try to figure out how to solve these problems using the following references:

• how to sort lists in Python
• Python regular expressions
• PythonScript plugin

[guy038]

Hello, @zweafw, @mark-olson and All,

I think that a native N++ solution is possible !

Let’s start with this INPUT text, below :

This is a| 43 points
random | 82 points
Text to | 82 points
See how it works | 153 points

With the following regex S/R :

search (?x-s) ^ .+ \| \x20 ( .+ )

Replace \1\t$0

We get the temporary text :

43 points	This is a| 43 points
82 points	random | 82 points
82 points	Text to | 82 points
153 points	See how it works | 153 points

Now, run the Edit > Line Operations > Sort Lines As Integers Descending option

We obtain this sorted file :

153 points	See how it works | 153 points
82 points	random | 82 points
82 points	Text to | 82 points
43 points	This is a| 43 points

Finally, with this last regex S/R :

SEARCH ^.+\t

REPLACE Leave EMPTY

Here is your expected OUTPUT text :

See how it works | 153 points
random | 82 points
Text to | 82 points
This is a| 43 points

Best Regards,

guy038

[Mark Olson]

@guy038
I should know better than to ever count out our resident regex wizard…

[Lycan Thrope]

@Mark-Olson,
I was thinking of taking a crack at it late this morning myself, but realized quickly…I’m not up to that kind of manipulation yet. :)

[ling danyelle]

@zweafw said in How i can sort number from largest to smallest on notepad++:

I’m new on Notepad++ and I want to know how can sort number from largest to smallest.

click on edit --> line operation–> sort lines as Integer descending

[Mark Olson]

@ling-danyelle
Yes, that would work in the specific case where the line starts with integers.
But if the line doesn’t start with integers, as in the user’s example data, it will not work. That’s why we went to all this trouble to pre-process the text.

[Alan Kilborn]

@Mark-Olson said:

I’m contemplating turning this script into a general-purpose thing to sort lines by the numeric or text value of any regex search result in that line.

Apologies to Mark for a possible upstaging, but I took this idea and ran with it, producing the following script called SortLinesWithRegexGroup1AsSortKey.py:

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from __future__ import print_function

#########################################
#
#  SortLinesWithRegexGroup1AsSortKey (SLWRG1ASK)
#
#########################################

# references:
#  https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/24325

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from Npp import *
import inspect
import os
import re
import threading
import SendKeys as sk

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

class SLWRG1ASK(object):

    def __init__(self):

        self.this_script_name = inspect.getframeinfo(inspect.currentframe()).filename.split(os.sep)[-1].rsplit('.', 1)[0]

        self.key_and_line_content_tup_list = []
        self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR = False
        self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR = False
        self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR = False
        self.last_matched_line_num = None
        self.user_line_num_of_error = None
        self.zero_matches_for_regex = True
        self.key_type__int_float_str = None
        self.do_descending_sort = False
        self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = True
        self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex = False

        rect_sel_mode = editor.getSelectionMode() in [ SELECTIONMODE.RECTANGLE, SELECTIONMODE.THIN ]
        if rect_sel_mode or editor.getSelections() > 1:
            self.mb('Cannot operate on a column selection or multiple selections; aborting!')
            return

        if len(editor.getSelText()) == 0:
            if not self.mb_ok_cancel('No selection active; confirm desire to sort entire file by pressing OK.'):
                return

        (search_start_line, search_end_line) = editor.getUserLineSelection()
        if editor.positionFromLine(search_end_line) == editor.getSelectionEnd(): search_end_line -= 1
        num_lines_in_user_sel = search_end_line - search_start_line + 1
        if num_lines_in_user_sel < 2: return  # if selection only on 1 line, nothing to do; already sorted!

        user_regex_with_group_1 = ''
        while True:
            user_regex_with_group_1 = self.prompt('Enter regex with group 1 being the sort key', user_regex_with_group_1)
            if user_regex_with_group_1 is None: return  # user cancel
            if len(user_regex_with_group_1.strip()) == 0:
                self.mb('Cannot specify an empty regex!  Try again.')
                continue
            if '(' not in user_regex_with_group_1:
                self.mb('Need to specify capture group 1 (as the sort key) in the regex!  Try again.')
                continue
            regex_err_msg = self.search_regex_is_invalid_error_msg(user_regex_with_group_1)
            if len(regex_err_msg) > 0:
                self.mb('Bad regular expression!\r\n\r\n{e}\r\n\r\nTry again.'.format(e=regex_err_msg))
                continue
            break

        while True:
            threading.Timer(0.25, lambda : sk.SendKeys("{RIGHT}")).start()  # clear auto-selection of prompt text when box appears
            user_options = self.prompt(
                '    Regex specified: {r}\r\n'
                'Choose options by placing 1 x in each group (no need to x to get DEFAULT choice)'.format(r=user_regex_with_group_1),
                '\r\n'.join([
                    'Group 1 data type:  [   ]Integer(DEFAULT)      [   ]Decimal      [   ]String',
                    'Sort order:  [   ]Ascending(DEFAULT)    [   ]Descending',
                    'Other:',
                    '[   ]Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match(DEFAULT)',
                    '[   ]Remove-non-matching-lines',
                ])
                )
            if user_options is None: return  # user cancel
            if len(user_options.strip()) == 0:
                self.mb('Cannot specify empty options!  Try again.')
                continue
            if self.option_check(user_options, 'String'): self.key_type__int_float_str = str
            elif self.option_check(user_options, 'Decimal'): self.key_type__int_float_str = float
            else: self.key_type__int_float_str = int
            self.do_descending_sort = self.option_check(user_options, 'Descending')
            self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = self.option_check(user_options, 'Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match')
            self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex = self.option_check(user_options, 'Remove-non-matching-lines')
            if not self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex: self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = True
            if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match and self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex:
                self.mb('Incorrect options checkmarked! Try again!')
                continue
            break

        # enforce single-line matching and only get the FIRST match on each line:
        user_regex_with_group_1 = '(?-s)' + user_regex_with_group_1 + '.*'

        search_start_pos = editor.positionFromLine(search_start_line)
        search_end_pos = editor.getLineEndPosition(search_end_line)

        # special "seeding", in case the very first line of the selection isn't hit:
        self.last_matched_line_num = search_start_line - 1

        editor.research(user_regex_with_group_1, lambda m: self.match_found(m), 0, search_start_pos, search_end_pos)

        if self.zero_matches_for_regex:
            self.mb('No lines matched the regex; aborting!')
            return

        if self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR:
            self.mb('No sort key specified (via using capture group 1) in the regex; aborting!')
            return

        if self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR:
            self.mb('Key data did not match specified type ({t}) on line {L}; aborting!'.format(L=self.user_line_num_of_error,
                t={ int : 'Integer', float : 'Decimal', str : 'String' }[self.key_type__int_float_str]))
            return

        if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match and self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR:
            self.mb('Not every line in the source data matched the specified regex (first non-matching line was {L}); aborting!'.format(L=self.user_line_num_of_error))
            return

        if len(self.key_and_line_content_tup_list) < 2:
            self.mb('Nothing (reasonable) found to sort; aborting!')
            return

        sorted_line_list = list(zip(*sorted(self.key_and_line_content_tup_list, reverse=self.do_descending_sort)))[1]

        eol = ['\r\n', '\r', '\n'][editor.getEOLMode()]
        doc_len_before = editor.getLength()

        editor.setSelection(search_end_pos, search_start_pos)
        editor.replaceSel(eol.join(sorted_line_list))

        doc_len_delta = editor.getLength() - doc_len_before

        # leave sorted text selected:
        editor.setSelection(search_end_pos + doc_len_delta, search_start_pos)

    def match_found(self, m):

        self.zero_matches_for_regex = False

        # we're already corrupt; don't bother processing further matches after the one where we found the problem
        if self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR: return
        if self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR: return
        if self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR: return

        (start_pos_of_match, end_pos_of_match) = m.span(0)

        line_num_of_match = editor.lineFromPosition(start_pos_of_match)

        if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match:
            if line_num_of_match != self.last_matched_line_num + 1:
                self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR = True
                system_line_num_of_err = self.last_matched_line_num + 1
                self.user_line_num_of_error = system_line_num_of_err + 1
                return
            self.last_matched_line_num = line_num_of_match

        try:
            g1_str = m.group(1)
        except IndexError:
            self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR = True
            return

        try:
            key_with_correct_type = self.key_type__int_float_str(g1_str)
        except ValueError:
            self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR = True
            self.user_line_num_of_error = line_num_of_match + 1
            return

        line_content = editor.getLine(line_num_of_match).rstrip('\n\r')

        tup = (key_with_correct_type, line_content)
        self.key_and_line_content_tup_list.append(tup)

    def option_check(self, input_text, option_text):
        m = re.search(r'\[([^]]+)\] ?{opt}'.format(opt=option_text), input_text)
        retval = True if m and m.group(1) != ' ' * len(m.group(1)) else False
        return retval

    def search_regex_is_invalid_error_msg(self, test_regex):
        try:
            # test test_regex for validity
            editor.research(test_regex, lambda _: None)
        except RuntimeError as r:
            return str(r)
        return ''

    def mb(self, msg, flags=0, title=''):  # a message-box function
        return notepad.messageBox(msg, title if title else self.this_script_name, flags)

    def mb_ok_cancel(self, msg, title=''):  # returns True(OK) or False(Cancel)
        okay = notepad.messageBox(msg, title if title else self.this_script_name, MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.OKCANCEL) == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTOK
        return okay

    def prompt(self, prompt_text, default_text=''):
        if '\n' not in prompt_text: prompt_text = '\r\n' + prompt_text
        prompt_text += ':'
        return notepad.prompt(prompt_text, self.this_script_name, default_text)

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if __name__ == '__main__': SLWRG1ASK()

Let’s walk thru using it on @guy038’s data:

This is a| 43 points
random | 82 points
Text to | 82 points
See how it works | 153 points

Put those lines in a tab and select them and run the script.

You get prompted:

Enter \| (\d+) points as this regex matches the desired sort key and places it in capture group 1:

and press OK/Enter.

The next prompt is:

(Yep, my ever-so-cheesy-UI)

Since we desire a high-to-low sort, “tick” the box for a Descending sort:

and press OK/Enter (accepting all the other “defaults” without needing to “tick” their boxes).

Then the originally selected lines change to this data, the result of the specified sort:

See how it works | 153 points
random | 82 points
Text to | 82 points
This is a| 43 points

–
Moderator EDIT (2024-Jan-14): The author of the script has found a fairly serious bug with the code published here for those that use Mac-style or Linux-style line-endings in their files. The logic for Mac and Linux was reversed, and thus if the script was used on one type of file, the line-endings for the opposite type of file could end up in the file after the script is run. This is insidious, because unless one works with visible line-endings turned on, this is likely not noticed. Some detail on the problem is HERE. The script above has been corrected per that instruction.

[Mark Olson]

@Alan-Kilborn
Awesome! I don’t mind being upstaged at all, and it has all the features I would have wanted. I’ll play around with this and see if I can come up with improvements.

[TBugReporter]

@Alan-Kilborn said in How i can sort number from largest to smallest on notepad++:

(Yep, my ever-so-cheesy-UI)

Nice of you to acknowledge this. 🤓

[Mark Olson]

OK, I’ve added two new options: lowercase culture-insensitive (Python can do that, it’s just rather obscure) and sorting unmatched lines to bottom.

The text:

foo: tone bar: 27.1
foo: bLue bar: 241.3
foo: taco bar: 66.5
foo: basst bar: 281.7
foo: öyster bar: 144.0
foo: oyster bar: 164.1
foo: Spb bar: 102.1
foo: blüe bar: 203.2
foo: spä bar: 121.2
foo: spb bar: 84.2
foo: blve bar: 183.2
foo: blue bar: 222.2
foo: baßk bar: 261.3
foo: täco bar: 47.3

Sorting unmatched lines to bottom (regex bar: (\d\d)\D, all other options default). Note that the lines with a 3-digit number all stay in the same order.

foo: tone bar: 27.1
foo: täco bar: 47.3
foo: taco bar: 66.5
foo: spb bar: 84.2
foo: bLue bar: 241.3
foo: basst bar: 281.7
foo: öyster bar: 144.0
foo: oyster bar: 164.1
foo: Spb bar: 102.1
foo: blüe bar: 203.2
foo: spä bar: 121.2
foo: blve bar: 183.2
foo: blue bar: 222.2
foo: baßk bar: 261.3

Ignorecase culture-sensitive (regex foo: (\w+), all other options default)

foo: basst bar: 281.7
foo: baßk bar: 261.3
foo: bLue bar: 241.3
foo: blue bar: 222.2
foo: blüe bar: 203.2
foo: blve bar: 183.2
foo: oyster bar: 164.1
foo: öyster bar: 144.0
foo: spä bar: 121.2
foo: Spb bar: 102.1
foo: spb bar: 84.2
foo: taco bar: 66.5
foo: täco bar: 47.3
foo: tone bar: 27.1

And finally, my modification of the script:

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from __future__ import print_function

#########################################
#
#  SortLinesWithRegexGroup1AsSortKey (SLWRG1ASK)
#
#########################################

# references:
#  https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/24325

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from Npp import *
import inspect
import os
import re
import threading
import unicodedata
import SendKeys as sk

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

def ignorecase_culture_invariant(x):
    return unicodedata.normalize('NFD', x.lower())

class SLWRG1ASK(object):

    def __init__(self):

        self.this_script_name = inspect.getframeinfo(inspect.currentframe()).filename.split(os.sep)[-1].rsplit('.', 1)[0]

        self.key_and_line_content_tup_list = []
        self.matched_line_numbers = set()
        self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR = False
        self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR = False
        self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR = False
        self.last_matched_line_num = None
        self.user_line_num_of_error = None
        self.zero_matches_for_regex = True
        self.key_transform = None
        self.do_descending_sort = False
        self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = True
        self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex = False
        self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom = False

        rect_sel_mode = editor.getSelectionMode() in [ SELECTIONMODE.RECTANGLE, SELECTIONMODE.THIN ]
        if rect_sel_mode or editor.getSelections() > 1:
            self.mb('Cannot operate on a column selection or multiple selections; aborting!')
            return

        if len(editor.getSelText()) == 0:
            if not self.mb_ok_cancel('No selection active; confirm desire to sort entire file by pressing OK.'):
                return

        (search_start_line, search_end_line) = editor.getUserLineSelection()
        if editor.positionFromLine(search_end_line) == editor.getSelectionEnd(): search_end_line -= 1
        num_lines_in_user_sel = search_end_line - search_start_line + 1
        if num_lines_in_user_sel < 2: return  # if selection only on 1 line, nothing to do; already sorted!

        user_regex_with_group_1 = ''
        while True:
            user_regex_with_group_1 = self.prompt('Enter regex with group 1 being the sort key', user_regex_with_group_1)
            if user_regex_with_group_1 is None: return  # user cancel
            if len(user_regex_with_group_1.strip()) == 0:
                self.mb('Cannot specify an empty regex!  Try again.')
                continue
            if '(' not in user_regex_with_group_1:
                self.mb('Need to specify capture group 1 (as the sort key) in the regex!  Try again.')
                continue
            regex_err_msg = self.search_regex_is_invalid_error_msg(user_regex_with_group_1)
            if len(regex_err_msg) > 0:
                self.mb('Bad regular expression!\r\n\r\n{e}\r\n\r\nTry again.'.format(e=regex_err_msg))
                continue
            break

        while True:
            threading.Timer(0.25, lambda : sk.SendKeys("{RIGHT}")).start()  # clear auto-selection of prompt text when box appears
            user_options = self.prompt(
                '    Regex specified: {r}\r\n'
                'Choose options by placing 1 x in each group (no need to x to get DEFAULT choice)'.format(r=user_regex_with_group_1),
                '\r\n'.join([
                    'Group 1 transformation:  [   ]Integer(DEFAULT)      [   ]Decimal      [   ]String      [   ]Ignorecase-cultural',
                    'Sort order:  [   ]Ascending(DEFAULT)    [   ]Descending',
                    'Other:',
                    '[   ]Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match(DEFAULT)',
                    '[   ]Remove-non-matching-lines',
                    '[   ]Sort-non-matching-lines-to-bottom',
                ])
                )
            if user_options is None: return  # user cancel
            if len(user_options.strip()) == 0:
                self.mb('Cannot specify empty options!  Try again.')
                continue
            if self.option_check(user_options, 'String'): self.key_transform = str
            elif self.option_check(user_options, 'Decimal'): self.key_transform = float
            elif self.option_check(user_options, 'Ignorecase-cultural'): self.key_transform = ignorecase_culture_invariant
            else: self.key_transform = int
            self.do_descending_sort = self.option_check(user_options, 'Descending')
            self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = self.option_check(user_options, 'Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match')
            self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex = self.option_check(user_options, 'Remove-non-matching-lines')
            self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom = self.option_check(user_options, 'Sort-non-matching-lines-to-bottom')
            if not (self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex or self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom):
                self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = True
            if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match + self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex + self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom > 1:
                self.mb('Can only specify one way of handling unmatched lines! Try again!')
                continue
            break

        # enforce single-line matching and only get the FIRST match on each line:
        user_regex_with_group_1 = '(?-s)' + user_regex_with_group_1 + '.*'

        search_start_pos = editor.positionFromLine(search_start_line)
        search_end_pos = editor.getLineEndPosition(search_end_line)

        # special "seeding", in case the very first line of the selection isn't hit:
        self.last_matched_line_num = search_start_line - 1

        editor.research(user_regex_with_group_1, lambda m: self.match_found(m), 0, search_start_pos, search_end_pos)

        if self.zero_matches_for_regex:
            self.mb('No lines matched the regex; aborting!')
            return

        if self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR:
            self.mb('No sort key specified (via using capture group 1) in the regex; aborting!')
            return

        if self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR:
            self.mb('Key data did not match specified type ({t}) on line {L}; aborting!'.format(L=self.user_line_num_of_error,
                t={ int : 'Integer', float : 'Decimal', str : 'String', ignorecase_culture_invariant: 'String' }[self.key_transform]))
            return

        if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match and self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR:
            self.mb('Not every line in the source data matched the specified regex (first non-matching line was {L}); aborting!'.format(L=self.user_line_num_of_error))
            return

        if len(self.key_and_line_content_tup_list) < 2:
            self.mb('Nothing (reasonable) found to sort; aborting!')
            return

        sorted_line_list = [tup[1] for tup in sorted(self.key_and_line_content_tup_list, reverse=self.do_descending_sort)]
        
        if self.matched_line_numbers:
            first_unmatched_line = search_start_line + len(self.matched_line_numbers) + 1
            self.mb('Line numbers {0}-{1} in sorted text were NOT matched.'.format(first_unmatched_line, search_end_line + 1),
                title='not all lines matched')
            for line_num in range(search_start_line, search_end_line + 1):
                if line_num not in self.matched_line_numbers:
                    unmatched_line = editor.getLine(line_num)
                    sorted_line_list.append(unmatched_line.rstrip('\r\n'))

        eol = ['\r\n', '\r', '\n'][editor.getEOLMode()]

        doc_len_before = editor.getLength()

        editor.setSelection(search_end_pos, search_start_pos)
        editor.replaceSel(eol.join(sorted_line_list))

        doc_len_delta = editor.getLength() - doc_len_before

        # leave sorted text selected:
        editor.setSelection(search_end_pos + doc_len_delta, search_start_pos)

    def match_found(self, m):

        self.zero_matches_for_regex = False

        # we're already corrupt; don't bother processing further matches after the one where we found the problem
        if self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR: return
        if self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR: return
        if self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR: return

        (start_pos_of_match, end_pos_of_match) = m.span(0)

        line_num_of_match = editor.lineFromPosition(start_pos_of_match)

        if line_num_of_match != self.last_matched_line_num + 1:
            if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match:
                self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR = True
                system_line_num_of_err = self.last_matched_line_num + 1
                self.user_line_num_of_error = system_line_num_of_err + 1
                return
        self.last_matched_line_num = line_num_of_match
        if self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom:
            self.matched_line_numbers.add(line_num_of_match)

        try:
            g1_str = m.group(1)
        except IndexError:
            self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR = True
            return

        try:
            key_with_correct_type = self.key_transform(g1_str)
        except ValueError:
            self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR = True
            self.user_line_num_of_error = line_num_of_match + 1
            return

        line_content = editor.getLine(line_num_of_match).rstrip('\n\r')

        tup = (key_with_correct_type, line_content)
        self.key_and_line_content_tup_list.append(tup)

    def option_check(self, input_text, option_text):
        m = re.search(r'\[([^]]+)\] ?{opt}'.format(opt=option_text), input_text)
        retval = True if m and m.group(1) != ' ' * len(m.group(1)) else False
        return retval

    def search_regex_is_invalid_error_msg(self, test_regex):
        try:
            # test test_regex for validity
            editor.research(test_regex, lambda _: None)
        except RuntimeError as r:
            return str(r)
        return ''

    def mb(self, msg, flags=0, title=''):  # a message-box function
        return notepad.messageBox(msg, title if title else self.this_script_name, flags)

    def mb_ok_cancel(self, msg, title=''):  # returns True(OK) or False(Cancel)
        okay = notepad.messageBox(msg, title if title else self.this_script_name, MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.OKCANCEL) == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTOK
        return okay

    def prompt(self, prompt_text, default_text=''):
        if '\n' not in prompt_text: prompt_text = '\r\n' + prompt_text
        prompt_text += ':'
        return notepad.prompt(prompt_text, self.this_script_name, default_text)

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if __name__ == '__main__': SLWRG1ASK()

Maybe some day I’ll come up with a way to sort by arbitrary rearrangements of multiple groups like \2\L\1\E, but this is fine for now.

EDIT: I suppose that sorting by \2\L\1\E could be accomplished by doing the find/replace with \2\L\1\E🤷🤷$0 as replacement, then sort however you want, then find/replace ^.*🤷🤷 with nothing.

–
Moderator EDIT (2024-Jan-14): The author of the script has found a fairly serious bug with the code published here for those that use Mac-style or Linux-style line-endings in their files. The logic for Mac and Linux was reversed, and thus if the script was used on one type of file, the line-endings for the opposite type of file could end up in the file after the script is run. This is insidious, because unless one works with visible line-endings turned on, this is likely not noticed. Some detail on the problem is HERE. The script above has been corrected per that instruction.

[Alan Kilborn]

One thing I didn’t get around to doing in the script was making it easier on a user to specify a “decimal” key.

It probably would have been simpler for the user to specify a regex such as key(DECIMAL) rather than, e.g., key([-+]?[0-9]*\.?[0-9]+).

The script code could scan the user supplied regex for “DECIMAL” and replace with the somewhat hard-to-remember regex.

See HERE for the origins of that decimal-number regex.

[Mark Olson]

@Alan-Kilborn
Yep, good idea. I just added

NUMBER_RE = r'([-+]?[0-9]*\.?[0-9]+(?:[eE][-+]?\d+)?)'
INT_RE = r'([+-]?[0-9]+)'

and user_regex_with_group_1.replace('(INT)', INT_RE).replace('(DECIMAL)', NUMBER_RE) after the regex is assigned but before it’s used.

It’s easy to get the basic structure of integer and decimal regexes, but there are way too many edge cases that are too easily forgotten.

[Mark Olson]

alright this is my final version based on Alan Kilborn’s suggestions. I will restrain myself from posting any other versions until I have any substantial new improvements

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from __future__ import print_function

#########################################
#
#  SortLinesWithRegexGroup1AsSortKey (SLWRG1ASK)
#
#########################################

# references:
#  https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/24325

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from Npp import *
import inspect
import os
import re
import threading
import unicodedata
import SendKeys as sk

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NUMBER_RE = r'([-+]?[0-9]*\.?[0-9]+(?:[eE][-+]?\d+)?)'
INT_RE = r'([+-]?[0-9]+)'

def ignorecase_culture_invariant(x):
    return unicodedata.normalize('NFD', x.lower())

class SLWRG1ASK(object):

    def __init__(self):

        self.this_script_name = inspect.getframeinfo(inspect.currentframe()).filename.split(os.sep)[-1].rsplit('.', 1)[0]

        self.key_and_line_content_tup_list = []
        self.matched_line_numbers = set()
        self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR = False
        self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR = False
        self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR = False
        self.last_matched_line_num = None
        self.user_line_num_of_error = None
        self.zero_matches_for_regex = True
        self.key_transform = None
        self.do_descending_sort = False
        self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = True
        self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex = False
        self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom = False

        rect_sel_mode = editor.getSelectionMode() in [ SELECTIONMODE.RECTANGLE, SELECTIONMODE.THIN ]
        if rect_sel_mode or editor.getSelections() > 1:
            self.mb('Cannot operate on a column selection or multiple selections; aborting!')
            return

        if len(editor.getSelText()) == 0:
            if not self.mb_ok_cancel('No selection active; confirm desire to sort entire file by pressing OK.'):
                return

        (search_start_line, search_end_line) = editor.getUserLineSelection()
        if editor.positionFromLine(search_end_line) == editor.getSelectionEnd(): search_end_line -= 1
        num_lines_in_user_sel = search_end_line - search_start_line + 1
        if num_lines_in_user_sel < 2: return  # if selection only on 1 line, nothing to do; already sorted!

        user_regex_with_group_1 = ''
        used_DECIMAL_RE = False
        while True:
            user_regex_with_group_1 = self.prompt('Enter regex with group 1 being the sort key.\r\nIf you wish, you can use (INT) to capture an integer or (DECIMAL) to capture a decimal', user_regex_with_group_1)
            if user_regex_with_group_1 is None: return  # user cancel
            if len(user_regex_with_group_1.strip()) == 0:
                self.mb('Cannot specify an empty regex!  Try again.')
                continue
            if '(' not in user_regex_with_group_1:
                self.mb('Need to specify capture group 1 (as the sort key) in the regex!  Try again.')
                continue
            regex_err_msg = self.search_regex_is_invalid_error_msg(user_regex_with_group_1)
            if len(regex_err_msg) > 0:
                self.mb('Bad regular expression!\r\n\r\n{e}\r\n\r\nTry again.'.format(e=regex_err_msg))
                continue
            used_DECIMAL_RE = '(DECIMAL)' in user_regex_with_group_1
            user_regex_with_group_1 = user_regex_with_group_1.replace('(INT)', INT_RE).replace('(DECIMAL)', NUMBER_RE)
            break

        while True:
            threading.Timer(0.25, lambda : sk.SendKeys("{RIGHT}")).start()  # clear auto-selection of prompt text when box appears
            user_options = self.prompt(
                '    Regex specified: {r}\r\n'
                'Choose options by placing 1 x in each group (no need to x to get DEFAULT choice)'.format(r=user_regex_with_group_1),
                '\r\n'.join([
                    'Group 1 transformation:  [   ]Integer(DEFAULT)      [  {0}]Decimal      [   ]String      [   ]Ignorecase-cultural'.format(' x'[used_DECIMAL_RE]),
                    'Sort order:  [   ]Ascending(DEFAULT)    [   ]Descending',
                    'Other:',
                    '[   ]Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match(DEFAULT)',
                    '[   ]Remove-non-matching-lines',
                    '[   ]Sort-non-matching-lines-to-bottom',
                ])
                )
            if user_options is None: return  # user cancel
            if len(user_options.strip()) == 0:
                self.mb('Cannot specify empty options!  Try again.')
                continue
            if self.option_check(user_options, 'String'): self.key_transform = str
            elif self.option_check(user_options, 'Decimal'): self.key_transform = float
            elif self.option_check(user_options, 'Ignorecase-cultural'): self.key_transform = ignorecase_culture_invariant
            else: self.key_transform = int
            self.do_descending_sort = self.option_check(user_options, 'Descending')
            self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = self.option_check(user_options, 'Sort-only-if-all-lines-have-group-1-match')
            self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex = self.option_check(user_options, 'Remove-non-matching-lines')
            self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom = self.option_check(user_options, 'Sort-non-matching-lines-to-bottom')
            if not (self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex or self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom):
                self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match = True
            if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match + self.remove_lines_that_dont_match_regex + self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom > 1:
                self.mb('Can only specify one way of handling unmatched lines! Try again!')
                continue
            break

        # enforce single-line matching and only get the FIRST match on each line:
        user_regex_with_group_1 = '(?-s)' + user_regex_with_group_1 + '.*'

        search_start_pos = editor.positionFromLine(search_start_line)
        search_end_pos = editor.getLineEndPosition(search_end_line)

        # special "seeding", in case the very first line of the selection isn't hit:
        self.last_matched_line_num = search_start_line - 1

        editor.research(user_regex_with_group_1, lambda m: self.match_found(m), 0, search_start_pos, search_end_pos)

        if self.zero_matches_for_regex:
            self.mb('No lines matched the regex; aborting!')
            return

        if self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR:
            self.mb('No sort key specified (via using capture group 1) in the regex; aborting!')
            return

        if self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR:
            self.mb('Key data did not match specified type ({t}) on line {L}; aborting!'.format(L=self.user_line_num_of_error,
                t={ int : 'Integer', float : 'Decimal', str : 'String', ignorecase_culture_invariant: 'String' }[self.key_transform]))
            return

        if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match and self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR:
            self.mb('Not every line in the source data matched the specified regex (first non-matching line was {L}); aborting!'.format(L=self.user_line_num_of_error))
            return

        if len(self.key_and_line_content_tup_list) < 2:
            self.mb('Nothing (reasonable) found to sort; aborting!')
            return

        sorted_line_list = [tup[1] for tup in sorted(self.key_and_line_content_tup_list, reverse=self.do_descending_sort)]
        
        if self.matched_line_numbers:
            first_unmatched_line = search_start_line + len(self.matched_line_numbers) + 1
            self.mb('Line numbers {0}-{1} in sorted text were NOT matched.'.format(first_unmatched_line, search_end_line + 1),
                title='not all lines matched')
            for line_num in range(search_start_line, search_end_line + 1):
                if line_num not in self.matched_line_numbers:
                    unmatched_line = editor.getLine(line_num)
                    sorted_line_list.append(unmatched_line.rstrip('\r\n'))

        eol = ['\r\n', '\r', '\n'][editor.getEOLMode()]

        doc_len_before = editor.getLength()

        editor.setSelection(search_end_pos, search_start_pos)
        editor.replaceSel(eol.join(sorted_line_list))

        doc_len_delta = editor.getLength() - doc_len_before

        # leave sorted text selected:
        editor.setSelection(search_end_pos + doc_len_delta, search_start_pos)

    def match_found(self, m):

        self.zero_matches_for_regex = False

        # we're already corrupt; don't bother processing further matches after the one where we found the problem
        if self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR: return
        if self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR: return
        if self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR: return

        (start_pos_of_match, end_pos_of_match) = m.span(0)

        line_num_of_match = editor.lineFromPosition(start_pos_of_match)

        if line_num_of_match != self.last_matched_line_num + 1:
            if self.each_line_must_have_regex_group1_key_match:
                self.not_all_lines_matched__ERROR = True
                system_line_num_of_err = self.last_matched_line_num + 1
                self.user_line_num_of_error = system_line_num_of_err + 1
                return
        self.last_matched_line_num = line_num_of_match
        if self.sort_lines_that_dont_match_to_bottom:
            self.matched_line_numbers.add(line_num_of_match)

        try:
            g1_str = m.group(1)
        except IndexError:
            self.user_did_not_specify_group1__ERROR = True
            return

        try:
            key_with_correct_type = self.key_transform(g1_str)
        except ValueError:
            self.key_did_not_match_specified_type__ERROR = True
            self.user_line_num_of_error = line_num_of_match + 1
            return

        line_content = editor.getLine(line_num_of_match).rstrip('\n\r')

        tup = (key_with_correct_type, line_content)
        self.key_and_line_content_tup_list.append(tup)

    def option_check(self, input_text, option_text):
        m = re.search(r'\[([^]]+)\] ?{opt}'.format(opt=option_text), input_text)
        retval = True if m and m.group(1) != ' ' * len(m.group(1)) else False
        return retval

    def search_regex_is_invalid_error_msg(self, test_regex):
        try:
            # test test_regex for validity
            editor.research(test_regex, lambda _: None)
        except RuntimeError as r:
            return str(r)
        return ''

    def mb(self, msg, flags=0, title=''):  # a message-box function
        return notepad.messageBox(msg, title if title else self.this_script_name, flags)

    def mb_ok_cancel(self, msg, title=''):  # returns True(OK) or False(Cancel)
        okay = notepad.messageBox(msg, title if title else self.this_script_name, MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.OKCANCEL) == MESSAGEBOXFLAGS.RESULTOK
        return okay

    def prompt(self, prompt_text, default_text=''):
        if '\n' not in prompt_text: prompt_text = '\r\n' + prompt_text
        prompt_text += ':'
        return notepad.prompt(prompt_text, self.this_script_name, default_text)

#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if __name__ == '__main__': SLWRG1ASK()

–
Moderator EDIT (2024-Jan-14): The author of the script has found a fairly serious bug with the code published here for those that use Mac-style or Linux-style line-endings in their files. The logic for Mac and Linux was reversed, and thus if the script was used on one type of file, the line-endings for the opposite type of file could end up in the file after the script is run. This is insidious, because unless one works with visible line-endings turned on, this is likely not noticed. Some detail on the problem is HERE. The script above has been corrected per that instruction.