Sorting paragraph numbers (multiple decimal place values)

Hi,

        I am using Oracle to sort paragraph numbers, as specified with the "order by" clause in a select statment. This does not directly work, as say, when sorting the paragraph numbers 1.11.3.4, 2.3.5, and 11.8.3, as theses values will be put in the order of 1.11.3.4, 11.8.3, and then 2.3.5, obviously not the order of the paragraphs in the document. Someone mentioned a "collation sequence" to me to correctly order these type of values, but I haven't been able to find any information on it. Has anybody done any sorting before of values like these that contain multiple decimal places. I guess the trouble stems from trying to do an ASCII based sort on these values, instead of treating them as somewhat numerical values.

-- 
        Michael D. Grapevine 
        NSWC PHD
        Code 4G33 
        Port Hueneme, CA 93043
        Email 1: grape_at_suned1.nswses.navy.mil
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