how to list file and sort by filename using ls

[Paul Lussier]

Zhao Peng <greenmt at gmail.com> writes:

> Now I should say good afternoon :)
>
> Using either "ls -ul" or "ls -cl"(which are supposed to sort by name
> according to manual, if I understood and used correctly), I just can't
> list files and sort them by filenames.

Others have mentioned the values of various environment variables,
which is usualy my second place to look, the first being the man page
:)

  DESCRIPTION
         List information about the FILEs (the current directory by
         default).  Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuSUX
         nor --sort.

The DESCRIPTION clearly states that the default behavior is to sort
listings alphabetically.  *Furthermore*, it implies that and of
-cftuSUX or --sort *ALTER* the default output.

So, what do -c and -u do?

   -c     with -lt: sort by, and show, ctime (time of last modification of
          file status information) with -l: show ctime and  sort  by  name
          otherwise: sort by ctime

   -u     with  -lt:  sort  by, and show, access time with -l: show access
          time and sort by name otherwise: sort by access time

So, there you have it, -c and -u, when used with -l do more than just
sort by name.  -c sorts by ctime, -u sorts by name, then access time.

hth.

-- 

Seeya,
Paul