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Q104731: SORT Adds Extra Character to Sorted Output

Article: Q104731
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
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SUMMARY
=======

SORT adds an extra character to the end of the file being sorted if an
end-of-file (EOF) or carriage return (<CR>) character is missing from the
end of the file.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Some text editors don't automatically add a <CR> or EOF character to the
end of the file (unlike MS-DOS Edit).

If you use this type of editor and your file doesn't have a trailing <CR>
or EOF character, your sorted file contains an extra character. For example, if
you sort the following file (which does not have an EOF or <CR> character
at the end of the file)

  AA<CR>
  BB<CR>
  CC<CR>
  AA

with the command SORT < TEXT.TXT > TESTOUT.TXT, your sorted output is

  AA<CR>
  AAx<CR>
  BB<CR>
  CC<CR>

where x is a random character from memory.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, edit the file you want to sort and add a <CR>
to the end.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 5.x, 6.0, 6.2,
and 6.21. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: 6.22 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 garbage extended ASCII corrupt corrupted symbol

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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