RE: Sort Order

[Paul McArdle]

select  left('SPK1234-6k',7) as bit_a, mid('SPK1234-6k',9,6) as bit_b ;

+----------------------+-----------------------+
| left('SPK1234-6k',7) | mid('SPK1234-6k',9,6) |
+----------------------+-----------------------+
| SPK1234              | 6k                    |
+----------------------+-----------------------+

ORDER BY  bit_a, integer( bit_b )
the cast should ignore trailing 'k'|'K' otherwise try to pull out the size 
by searching for the position of the 'k'|'K' and do another mid/left etc.