code: def sort_items(self,items,args=False):
      
      if self.settings['sort'].lower() == 'src': return
      def alpha(i):
          return i.name
      def permission(i):
          if args:
              if i.intent == 'in': return 'b'
              if i.intent == 'inout': return 'c'
              if i.intent == 'out': return 'd'
              if i.intent == '': return 'e'
          perm = getattr(i, 'permission', '')
          if perm == 'public': return 'b'
          if perm == 'protected': return 'c'
          if perm == 'private': return 'd'
          return 'a'
      def permission_alpha(i):
          return permission(i) + '-' + i.name
      def itype(i):
          if i.obj == 'variable':
              retstr = i.vartype
              if retstr == 'class': retstr = 'type'
              if i.kind: retstr = retstr + '-' + str(i.kind)
              if i.strlen: retstr = retstr + '-' + str(i.strlen)
              if i.proto:
                  retstr = retstr + '-' + i.proto[0]
              return retstr
          elif i.obj == 'proc':
              if i.proctype != 'Function':
                  return i.proctype.lower()
              else:
                  return i.proctype.lower() + '-' + itype(i.retvar)
          else:
              return i.obj
      def itype_alpha(i):
          return itype(i) + '-' + i.name
  
      if self.settings['sort'].lower() == 'alpha':
          items.sort(key=alpha)
      elif self.settings['sort'].lower() == 'permission':
          items.sort(key=permission)
      elif self.settings['sort'].lower() == 'permission-alpha':
          items.sort(key=permission_alpha)
      elif self.settings['sort'].lower() == 'type':
          items.sort(key=itype)
      elif self.settings['sort'].lower() == 'type-alpha':
          items.sort(key=itype_alpha)
docs: Sort the `self`'s contents, as contained in the list `items` as
      specified in `self`'s meta-data.