This is a test version of Biostars. For the public version, visit https://www.biostars.org.
Linux sort P-values with scientific notation

Hi All,

I want to sort P-values in bash with sort command. The P-values are as the following: 

A    1.14e-06
B    4.35e-05
C    0.5361
D    0.7278

When you use sort -k2n,2 input.txt, the result is as the following:

C    0.5361
D    0.7278
A    1.14e-06
B    4.35e-05

I tried sort -gk2n,2 input.txt and not working neither.

Anyone can share a correct bash or Perl one-line command to sort them correctly.

Thanks.

sort pvalue scientific notation
• 4,022 views • link
updated by zx8754 zx8754 • written by Shicheng Guo Shicheng Guo

2 answers 

$ sort -g -k2 list
A    1.14e-06
B    4.35e-05
C    0.5361
D    0.7278
• 0 views • link
written by JC JC

interesting. remove n numeric works. and works very well

• 0 views • link
written by Shicheng Guo Shicheng Guo

Using both g and n at the same time gives an error:

$ sort -gn input.txt
sort: options '-gn' are incompatible

Or:

$ sort -k2ng,2 input.txt
sort: options '-gn' are incompatible

I am guessing, in your case it doesn't throw an error as we are using g for all columns and n for the second column.

• 0 views • link
written by zx8754 zx8754

Log in to answer this question.

More posts like this