How to sort an array containing class objects by a property value of a class instance?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
How to sort an array of object by a specific field in C#?

Given the following code:

MyClass myClass;
MyClassArray[] myClassArray = new MyClassArray[10];

for(int i; i < 10; i++;)
{
    myClassArray[i] = new myClass();
    myClassArray[i].Name = GenerateRandomName();
}

The end result could for example look like this:

myClassArray[0].Name //'John';
myClassArray[1].Name //'Jess';
myClassArray[2].Name //'James';

How would you sort the MyClassArray[] array according to the myClass.Name property alphabetically so the array will look like this in the end:

myClassArray[0].Name //'James';
myClassArray[1].Name //'Jess';
myClassArray[2].Name //'John';

*Edit: I'm using VS 2005/.NET 2.0.

**Well, *by all appearances,* it's the same thing.** If you're gonna contest a duplicate flag, then at least be prepared to explain why your question is different from one previously asked, and why the answers given for that one won't help you in your situation. Otherwise, what's the point? — Shog9, Aug 21 '09 at 18:26
This doesn't appear to be a duplicate to me, despite the fact the titles are similar, because the other question is actually about Lists, not arrays. The accepted answer is using Linq and List functionality that arrays lack. The accepted answer here is what worked for me, while those answers couldn't. — Joe M, Mar 02 '16 at 16:55

score 39 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 20 '09 at 11:43

39

You can use the Array.Sort overload that takes a Comparison<T> parameter:

Array.Sort(myClassArray,
    delegate(MyClass x, MyClass y) { return x.Name.CompareTo(y.Name); });

answered Aug 20 '09 at 11:43

LukeH

263,068
57
365
409

4

I needed the same but with descending order, just negated the return result. it worked fine :) – Umamaheswaran Apr 01 '13 at 11:25

score 22 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 20 '09 at 06:32

Have MyClass implement IComparable interface and then use Array.Sort

Something like this will work for CompareTo (assuming the Name property has type string)

public int CompareTo(MyClass other)
{
    return this.Name.CompareTo(other.Name);
}

Or simply using Linq

MyClass[] sorted = myClassArray.OrderBy(c => c.Name).ToArray();

How to sort an array containing class objects by a property value of a class instance?

2 Answers2

Linked

Related