Z:\> help sort Sorts input and writes results to the screen, a file, or another device. SORT [/R] [/+n] < [drive1:][path1]filename1 [> [drive2:][path2]filename2] [command |] SORT [/R] [/+n] [> [drive2:][path2]filename2] /R Reverses the sort order; that is, sorts Z to A, then 9 to 0. /+n Sorts the file according to characters in column n. [drive1:][path1]filename1 Specifies a file to be sorted. [drive2:][path2]filename2 Specifies a file where the sorted input is to be stored. command Specifies a command whose output is to be sorted. The above output of the Windows NT HELP SORT command, in Wright Hall, --------- shows two different ways you could use SORT, two different lines. FIRST LINE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SORT [/R] [/+n] < [drive1:][path1]filename1 [> [drive2:][path2]filename2] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND LINE --------------------------------------------------------- [command |] SORT [/R] [/+n] [> [drive2:][path2]filename2] --------------------------------------------------------- The 2nd line shows how you can use SORT with a PIPE and pipe the output of some other command into the SORT command. The first line has a mistake in the syntax specification. Remember that [ ] mean something is optional and you do NOT need to include that and can still have a legal command. If there are no [ ] surrounding some word or feature, it means that is ALWAYS required for every command you write, in this case every SORT command. Here is an example specification of the TYPE command for Windows NT DOS prompt (cmd). C:\>help type Displays the contents of a text file or files. TYPE [drive:][path]filename 1. You must include the command keyword TYPE 2. Since drive: is specified inside of [ ] you do NOT have to specify a drive letter. 3. Since path is enclosed in [] as [path], you do NOT have to specify a path. 4. Since filename is not surrounded by [ ], you are REQUIRED to specify a filename. TYPE A:myfile.txt TYPE Z:\web\myHomePage.html TYPE funnyNote.txt are all three legal commands....