Database: how do I sort GUID?

Question

My primary key uses guid.

How do I sort GUID?

What about I create a datetime column and record a datetime stamp, I could then sort by datetime? is this the best way to do it? or are there better ways?

Answer 1

SELECT * 
FROM myTable
ORDER BY CAST(myGuid AS VARCHAR(36))

Answer 2

Necromancing.
GUIDs are just random numbers, there is no sequentiality in them (unless you use sequentialuid - but it restarts once the computer restarts, so it's pretty much pointless).
This is how GUIDs are actually sorted:
The code speaks for itselfs, the magical parts are:

System.Guid g
g.ToByteArray();
int[] m_byteOrder = new int[16] // 16 Bytes = 128 Bit 
    {10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 8, 9, 6, 7, 4, 5, 0, 1, 2, 3};


public int Compare(Guid x, Guid y)
{
    byte byte1, byte2;

    //Swap to the correct order to be compared
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_BYTES_IN_GUID; i++)
    {
        byte1 = x.ToByteArray()[m_byteOrder[i]];
        byte2 = y.ToByteArray()[m_byteOrder[i]];
        if (byte1 != byte2)
            return (byte1 < byte2) ? (int)EComparison.LT : (int)EComparison.GT;
    } // Next i 

    return (int)EComparison.EQ;
}

Full code:

namespace BlueMine.Data
{


    public class SqlGuid
        : System.IComparable
        , System.IComparable<SqlGuid>
        , System.Collections.Generic.IComparer<SqlGuid>
        , System.IEquatable<SqlGuid>
    {
        private const int NUM_BYTES_IN_GUID = 16;

        // Comparison orders.
        private static readonly int[] m_byteOrder = new int[16] // 16 Bytes = 128 Bit 
        {10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 8, 9, 6, 7, 4, 5, 0, 1, 2, 3};

        private byte[] m_bytes; // the SqlGuid is null if m_value is null


        public SqlGuid(byte[] guidBytes)
        {
            if (guidBytes == null || guidBytes.Length != NUM_BYTES_IN_GUID)
                throw new System.ArgumentException("Invalid array size");

            m_bytes = new byte[NUM_BYTES_IN_GUID];
            guidBytes.CopyTo(m_bytes, 0);
        }


        public SqlGuid(System.Guid g)
        {
            m_bytes = g.ToByteArray();
        }


        public byte[] ToByteArray()
        {
            byte[] ret = new byte[NUM_BYTES_IN_GUID];
            m_bytes.CopyTo(ret, 0);
            return ret;
        }

        int CompareTo(object obj)
        {
            if (obj == null)
                return 1; // https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.icomparable.compareto(v=vs.110).aspx

            System.Type t = obj.GetType();

            if (object.ReferenceEquals(t, typeof(System.DBNull)))
                return 1;

            if (object.ReferenceEquals(t, typeof(SqlGuid)))
            {
                SqlGuid ui = (SqlGuid)obj;
                return this.Compare(this, ui);
            } // End if (object.ReferenceEquals(t, typeof(UInt128)))

            return 1;
        } // End Function CompareTo(object obj)


        int System.IComparable.CompareTo(object obj)
        {
            return this.CompareTo(obj);
        }


        int CompareTo(SqlGuid other)
        {
            return this.Compare(this, other);
        }


        int System.IComparable<SqlGuid>.CompareTo(SqlGuid other)
        {
            return this.Compare(this, other);
        }


        enum EComparison : int
        {
            LT = -1, // itemA precedes itemB in the sort order.
            EQ = 0, // itemA occurs in the same position as itemB in the sort order.
            GT = 1 // itemA follows itemB in the sort order.
        }


        public int Compare(SqlGuid x, SqlGuid y)
        {
            byte byte1, byte2;

            //Swap to the correct order to be compared
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_BYTES_IN_GUID; i++)
            {
                byte1 = x.m_bytes[m_byteOrder[i]];
                byte2 = y.m_bytes[m_byteOrder[i]];
                if (byte1 != byte2)
                    return (byte1 < byte2) ? (int)EComparison.LT : (int)EComparison.GT;
            } // Next i 

            return (int)EComparison.EQ;
        }


        int System.Collections.Generic.IComparer<SqlGuid>.Compare(SqlGuid x, SqlGuid y)
        {
            return this.Compare(x, y);
        }


        public bool Equals(SqlGuid other)
        {
            return Compare(this, other) == 0;
        }


        bool System.IEquatable<SqlGuid>.Equals(SqlGuid other)
        {
            return this.Equals(other);
        }


    }


}

Answer 3

A Guid is just what the name implies, a unique identifier. Identity doesn't imply order, it just gives you a way to determine whether 2 things are supposed to be identical. In order to sort, you need to determine what it means to be greater or maller than something else. From your question, it seems that sorting should be based on creation time; Guids won't help you with that.

Answer 4

I would go with an int (or bigint) column set up as an identity. Every time a row is inserted the identity will increment. You can sort on this column to get rows in the order they were inserted.

Answer 5

What are you trying to do? sort by insert date? for that you indeed do need a datetime (or one of its variants) field since both guids and auto incr keys can never guarantee order, only uniqueness

Read this for more information: Primary Key Sorting