Documentation>MATLAB API>MISC - vl_alphanum

STRINGS = VL_ALPHANUM(STRINGS) sorts the cell array of strings STRINGS by using the Alphanum algorithm [1]. [STRINGS,PERM] = VL_ALPHANUM(...) returns the corresponding permutation PERM as well.

Example

  Alphanum sorts strings in a way that 'makes sense'. For instance

       strings = {'B1', 'B2', 'B12', 'A12', 'A1', 'A2'} ;
       sorted = vl_alphanum(strings) ;

  produces the sorted array {'A1', 'A2', 'A12', 'B1', B2', 'B12'}. By contrast, SORT() produces the array {'A1', 'A12', 'A2', 'B1', B12', 'B2'} (note the position of the elements 'A12', 'B12').

References: [1] Dave Koelle, 'The Alphanum Algorithm', http://www.davekoelle.com/alphanum.html