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

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
– Shog9, Commented Aug 21, 2009 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
– Joe M, Commented Mar 2, 2016 at 16:55

LukeH · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-20 11:43:31Z

43

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, 2009 at 11:43

LukeH

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1 Comment

Umamaheswaran Over a year ago

I needed the same but with descending order, just negated the return result. it worked fine :)

Simon Fox · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-20 06:32:05Z

27

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();

answered Aug 20, 2009 at 6:32

Simon Fox

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