So , the little help text says
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...
test [n]
n Specifies the character number, n, to
begin each comparison. 3 indicates that
each comparison should begin at the 3rd
character in each line. Lines with fewer
than n characters collate before other lines.
By default comparisons start at the first
character in each line.
It says "n" specifies the position of character to start sorting. So let's say we have this in a file
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abc10def3
abc900def4
abc29def3
ab2234defa
ab2234defv
without specifying the "n" character, it gives supposedly correct results
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C:\work>type file | test.bat
ab2234defa <== since "2" is at 3rd position
ab2234defv <=== since "v" is greater than "a" at the last position
abc10def3
abc29def3 <=== the rest are at 4th position
abc900def4
However, when tested with n = 4 for example
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C:\work>type file | test.bat 4
abc10def3
abc900def4 <=== why is 900 here ie, greater than "29" below?
abc29def3
ab2234defa
ab2234defv
this gives incorrect results, since starting from 4th position, these should be the correct result
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abc10def3 <== starting from 4th position "10" is smallest
abc29def3 <=== then 29
ab2234defa <== then 234
ab2234defv <== then 234 and last character "v" is greater than previous "a"
abc900def4 <== 900 is the highest.
Some one please clear up my confusion.