How to sort list<string> in custom order

Question

Having a string like "CAATCCAAC" I am generating all kmers from it (k is variable but has to be less than string) doing:

        string dna = "CAATCCAAC";
        dna = dna.Replace("\n", "");
        int k = 5;
        List<string> kmerList = new List<string>();
        var r = new Regex(@"(.{" + k + @"})");
        while (dna.Length >= k)
        {
            Match m = r.Match(dna);
            //Console.WriteLine(m.ToString());
            kmerList.Add(m.ToString()); 
            dna = dna.Substring(1);
        }
        var sortedList = kmerList.OrderBy(i =>'A').
                        ThenBy(i => 'C').
                        ThenBy(i => 'G').
                        ThenBy(i => 'T').ToList();
        foreach (string result in sortedList) 
        {
            Console.WriteLine(result);
        }

I want to sort result

 AATCC
 ATCCA
 CAATC
 CCAAC
 TCCAA

However I am getting

CAATC
AATCC
ATCCA
TCCAA
CCAAC

How can I sort elements so they are ordered first by 'A' then by 'C' then by 'G' and finally 'T' ?

I tried

var sortedList = kmerList.OrderBy(i =>'A').
                            ThenBy(i => 'C').
                            ThenBy(i => 'G').
                            ThenBy(i => 'T').ToList();

but that wouldn't work

I want the result like to be aplied for all string like

AAAA
AACG
ACCC
ACCG
ACCT
...

TTTT

you don't need to order by character like so, just compare the strings. — King King
– King King, Commented Dec 6, 2013 at 17:55
This seems to me alphabetical order. But also you can write your own comparer class and using that in the sort method — Yoghurt
– Yoghurt, Commented Dec 6, 2013 at 17:58

Omer Eldan · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-06 18:10:42Z

4

In order to sort a list in an alphabetical order,you should use the built-in Sort function:

kmerList.Sort();

edited Dec 6, 2013 at 18:10

answered Dec 6, 2013 at 17:54

Omer Eldan

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2 Comments

edgarmtze Over a year ago

and if it would be inverse order T->G->C->A?

Daniel Mann Over a year ago

kmerList.Sort().Reverse()

gunr2171 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-06 18:01:41Z

1

If you want to order in alphabetical order you can use:

List<string> sorted = kmerList.OrderBy(x => x).ToList();

To get the reverse:

List<string> sorted = kmerList.OrderByDescending(x => x).ToList();

answered Dec 6, 2013 at 18:01

gunr2171

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Comments

Patrick Y · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-06 18:01:54Z

1

There's a build-in sort function. Try kmerList.Sort()

edited Dec 6, 2013 at 18:01

answered Dec 6, 2013 at 17:56

Patrick Y

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