df = data.frame(a = c(4, 7, 1, 3),
b = c(98, 12, 87, 20),
c = c(2, 4, 5, 9),
d = c(13, 77, 50, 20),
row.names = c('o', 'p', 's', 't'))
print(df)
df <- df[with(df, order(a)), ]
print(df)
# run:
#
# a b c d
# o 4 98 2 13
# p 7 12 4 77
# s 1 87 5 50
# t 3 20 9 20
# a b c d
# s 1 87 5 50
# t 3 20 9 20
# o 4 98 2 13
# p 7 12 4 77
#