Sort from current column from visual selection

Question

I am trying to write a :sort wrapper that sorts from current column.

command! -bang -range=% -nargs=* Sortc exe '<line1>,<line2>sort<bang> <args> /\%' .. virtcol('.') .. 'v/'

E.g.

hello world
foo   bar
apple google

When the cursor is on [w]orld, :Sortc will sort into

foo   bar
apple google
hello world

It works in all cases except when in visual mode. E.g. From original text, I select all lines in virtual line mode and type :'<,'>Sortc, it ignores the column and sorts from beginning. i.e. virtcol('.'), returns 0.

Is there anyway to fix this such that it works in visual mode too?

Workaround: After it incorrectly sorts, run the same command again placing in the correct column, without the visual mode (i.e. @:), then it works.

Using visual block selection works.

Answer 1

Before running any Ex command over a line range the cursor is always positioned to the column no. 1. So you've got your logic broken.

There can be different ways to fix it. I would probably choose taking column no. from "less-than" bookmark, and not from the cursor position (which is never a good idea anyway, as cursor can be moved to any of four(!) corners of the visual selection).