sorting rows of text in flat file

[chrislive]

Hi I have a flat file that contains staff contact details. Each staff has its own row laid out like so

fullname|nickname|email|mobile|extension|url

but when I add to the list using my admin tool it will add to the bottom of the file.

How can I go through and sort by the Full Name ($pieces[0] as it is)

and then later if I want to sort by another object in the file.

Thanks in Advance 😃

[xblue]

if you have any chance, I'd recommend using a database. I don't think you'll regret it.

if not, the only way is
- read the complete file
- sort it
- and if you need to save the sorted data back to the file, re-write the complete file.

[Installer]

You can;
- Read the file into an array using "file()";
- Sort the array using an array sorting function;
- Use "implode()" to put the array into a string;
- Then use "fwrite()" to write the string back to file.

To sort on a different field:
- Read into an array
- Loop through the array elements with "foreach";
-- Use "fwrite()" to separate the fields;
-- Reassemble the fields in desired order using concantenation;
- Sort the array;
- Put the array into a string;
- Then write to file.