How do I re-sort a list of files grouped by directory

Question

From within a DOS batch file, how can I crudely re-sort a text file containing a manually maintained list of source files, so those files listed (from the same directory) in the small example extract below, are grouped together again? I don't want how the DOS sort.exe has re-ordered them in pure alphabetical order, where ctype.h and assert.h have been seperated by files listed in the c++ sub-directory.

I'd prefer to do this using pure Windows XP/DOS (or Unix) commands - or if needed download an existing executable utility that doesn't need installing like tcl or perl scripts. It's a pity dir /s /b can't take input from file trying to use it as a format filter, not sure if ls can.

To be re-ordered after DOS sort.exe has done it's mischief:

C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\ar.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\argz.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\assert.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\auto_ptr.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\backward_warning.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\binders.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\boost_shared_ptr.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\functional_hash.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\hashtable_policy.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\cr_section_macros.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\ctype.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\dirent.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\envlock.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\envz.h

Desired output:

C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\ar.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\argz.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\assert.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\cr_section_macros.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\ctype.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\dirent.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\envlock.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\envz.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\auto_ptr.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\backward_warning.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\binders.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\boost_shared_ptr.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\functional_hash.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\hashtable_policy.h

Answer 1

I don't believe this is a very elegant solution but it does work:

1. Download GNU Utilities for Win32
2. Extract the utilities somewhere accessible.

3. Use the 'sort' executable provided along the lines of:

   sort -t \ -k 9 -k 8 -k 7 -k 6 -k 5 -k 4 -k 3 -k 2 -k 1

This assumes a maximum depth in your files of 9 (9 fields separated in your paths by the back slash character). The output is:

C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\ar.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\argz.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\assert.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\cr_section_macros.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\ctype.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\dirent.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\envlock.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\envz.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\auto_ptr.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\backward_warning.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\binders.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\boost_shared_ptr.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\functional_hash.h
C:\NXP\LpcXpresso_3.6\Tools\arm-none-eabi\include\c++\hashtable_policy.h

If the paths were any longer than provided in your example you'd basically have to add further -k switches to ensure you keep your desired sorting.

Hoping someone has a much more elegant and minimal way than this! :)