Sorting an array in javascript based on date

Question

I'm trying to parse multiple subreddit feeds in a Google Script. I can call this Google Script (redditFeeds()) and it returns the title, link, and date to my spreadsheet. However, I want to sort the posts by date so I can see the most recent posts first. I've tried using sort() on the array in various ways and can't get anything sort by descending date. I've even tried converting the date to a Date object and that didn't fix it.

function redditFeeds() {

  var entries_array = [];
  var subreddit_array = ['https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/top/.rss','https://www.reddit.com/r/news/top/.rss']

  for (var s = 0; s < subreddit_array.length; s++) {

    var xml = UrlFetchApp.fetch(subreddit_array[s]).getContentText();
    var document = XmlService.parse(xml);
    var root = document.getRootElement();
    var atom = XmlService.getNamespace('http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom');
    var entries = document.getRootElement().getChildren('entry', atom);

    for (var i = 0; i < entries.length; i++) {
      var title = entries[i].getChild('title', atom).getText();
      var title = entries[i].getChild('link', atom).getText();
        var link = entries[i].getChild('link', atom).getAttribute('href').getValue();
      var date = entries[i].getChild('updated', atom).getValue();
      entries_array.push([title, link, date]);
    }
  }

  //return entries_array;

  //doesn't work
  //entries_array.sort(function(a,b) { 
  //  return a.date - b.date;
  //});

  //also not working
  return entries_array.sort(function(a,b) { 
    new Date(a.date).getTime() - new Date(b.date).getTime();
  });

}

Possible duplicate of Sorting an array of JavaScript objects — Tibrogargan
– Tibrogargan, Commented Jul 16, 2016 at 21:21

user94559 · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-16 21:20:49Z

3

I think you want the below, assuming entries_array looks like I think it does. I have no idea what start was supposed to be in your code... I think each entry in entries_array is an array with three members in it, the third being some sort of representation of a date. If it's one that can be parsed by new Date, then this code should work:

return entries_array.sort(function (a, b) { 
  return new Date(a[2]) - new Date(b[2]);
});

If that's not right, please share what entries_array looks like.

answered Jul 16, 2016 at 21:20

user94559

60.3k6 gold badges108 silver badges107 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Keith Over a year ago

"start" was a typo and should be "date" but your solution worked for me. Thanks!

Keith Over a year ago

Right, it was not working either way, just wanted to respond to your point about "start" not making sense.

user94559 Over a year ago

@Keith It makes as much sense as date. :-)

Hassan · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-16 21:19:05Z

1

I see a return missing, in the inner sort function and you should not need the getTime()

 return entries_array.sort(function(a,b) { 
    return new Date(a.start) - new Date(b.start);
  });

answered Jul 16, 2016 at 21:19

Hassan

1,4331 gold badge11 silver badges13 bronze badges

2 Comments

user94559 Over a year ago

This is true, but I believe both a.start and b.start are undefined, so this won't solve the issue.

Hassan Over a year ago

Definitely yes, but the OP question was related to sorting, I did not try to see if the data is valid or not

grateful · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-16 21:29:24Z

0

An easy way of sorting date objects is by converting them into UNIX time stamps using dateObj.getTime(). This creates an integer of the seconds since midnight on New Years day 1970. It's very useful if you are working in multiple time zones.

answered Jul 16, 2016 at 21:29

grateful

1,13814 silver badges25 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Sorting an array in javascript based on date

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related