[Tutor] Sorting Data

[Alan Colburn]

I have a quick, general question. Suppose I have a database of
information--list, tuple, or dictionary--with each element (or value) being
a list, i.e., a list of lists, a tuple or lists, or a dictionary of lists.
Regardless, assume each of these data lists is ordered similarly. list1[0],
list2[0], and list3[0] all represent, for example, a person's first name,
and list1[1], list2[1], and list3[1] all represent a last name.

What's a typical way to be able to sort the database by any list element? In
the above example, I recognize I could sort by first name simply by using
the .sort() command. (If the database was contained in a variable called
MasterList, I could invoke MasterList.sort().) However, how would you sort
by last name? And what if the lists making up the database had multiple
entries (first name, last name, a date, text notes, etc.)?

In most spreadsheet programs, a user can simply highlight a column and click
an icon called "Sort" to accomplish the goal I'm asking about.

Thank you, as always! -- Al

p.s. I've asked a couple questions to the list during the last few weeks.
Your responses have been very helpful!