Need Help to Sort a String Like a Number

From: Jamuna <jamuna.ranganathan_at_gmail.com>
Date: 21 Jun 2006 08:47:40 -0700
Message-ID: <1150904860.874552.92930@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>

Hi All:

I have a column named Release which can contain alphanumeric characters and i need to sort this column.

A sample random data set for Release values:

Release

---

6.1(1)
6.1(1a)
12.3(1a)C
12.3(1c)BW
7.6(4)AA
7.6(4)X

12.2(4)MB13
6.1(1c)
7.6(3a)
12.3(1a)BW
12.2(4)MB12
12.3(4)TPC11a

12.2(4)MB13a
12.3(4)Z

After sorting, i need the following order

Sorted Release

---

6.1(1)
6.1(1a)
6.1(1c)
7.6(3a)
7.6(4)AA
7.6(4)X
12.3(1a)BW
12.3(1c)BW
12.3(1a)C
12.2(4)MB12
12.2(4)MB13
12.2(4)MB13a

12.3(4)TPC11a
12.3(4)Z

Can anyone please help me with this ??

Thanks,
Jamuna Received on Wed Jun 21 2006 - 10:47:40 CDT