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https://github.com/sleekpanther/numberstringcomparer
A C# Comparer to sort lists of data that could be either numeric of string replacing the default alphabetical sort which doesn't always work for numbers.
https://github.com/sleekpanther/numberstringcomparer
noah noah-patullo noah-patulo noahpattulo noahpatullo noahpatulo patullo sort sorting
Last synced: about 2 months ago
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A C# Comparer to sort lists of data that could be either numeric of string replacing the default alphabetical sort which doesn't always work for numbers.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/sleekpanther/numberstringcomparer
- Owner: SleekPanther
- Created: 2023-09-15T07:20:08.000Z (over 1 year ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2023-12-22T22:01:21.000Z (about 1 year ago)
- Last Synced: 2023-12-23T04:06:29.947Z (about 1 year ago)
- Topics: noah, noah-patullo, noah-patulo, noahpattulo, noahpatullo, noahpatulo, patullo, sort, sorting
- Language: C#
- Homepage:
- Size: 22.5 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# NumberStringComparer
A C# Comparer to sort lists of data that could be either numeric of string replacing the default alphabetical sort which doesn't always work for numbers.
## The Problem
The default alphabetical sort doesn't work when numbers are stored as strings.
Example 1:
```
var list1 = new List(){
"1",
"2",
"3",
"10",
"11",
"100",
};
list1.Sort();
// Result: string.Join(Environment.NewLine, list1);
"1"
"10"
"100"
"11"
"2"
"3"
```
Example 2:
```
var list3 = new List(){
"1",
"2",
"3",
"10",
"11",
"100",
"A",
"a",
"b",
"ab",
};
list3.Sort();
// Result:
"1"
"10"
"100"
"11"
"2"
"3"
"A"
"a"
"b"
"ab"
```
Example 3: Combined lists containing both numbers and strings because you can't parse every item as numbers and it fails to compare items of different types.
```
var list3 = new List(){
1,
2,
3,
10,
11,
100,
"A",
"a",
"b",
"ab",
};
list3.Sort();
```
```diff
Result:
- InvalidOperationException: 'Failed to compare two elements in the array.'
```
## Solution
`NumberStringComparer` parses each item into a `NumberString` object composed of a `text` property containing the original text and if the item is numeric also a `number` component. If an item is not completely numeric, `number` will be null and the text is parsed into a list of `parts` containing the text broken up into its numeric and non-numeric parts.
e.g. "a122bc4" will result in `parts` = `["a", 122, "bc", 4]`
Items are compared by number if they are completely numeric, otherwise each parts list will be compared for sorting.
If the text contains commas, is broken up into a parts array of numbers, removing the commas.
e.g. "1,2,3" will result in `[1, 2, 3]` and "1,2" will result in `[1, 2]` and when sorting, "1,2" will come before "1,2,3"
## Comparing complex objects by 1 property
You can use any of the following primitive collection types
### Supported data types
- `string`
- `int`
- `double`
- `float`
- `decimal`
- `long`
- `short`
As well as complex objects or Dictionaries using a property.
For Dictionaries, it will use the key property of `KeyValuePair` and ignore the Value property.
See `NumberStringComparerTests.NumberStringComparerObjectComparison_Tests()` for more complex object comparison examples.
### .NET Version
This project uses .NET 7.0 (Core) for the main branch but there is also a [.NET Framework-compatible branch](https://github.com/SleekPanther/NumberStringComparer/tree/net-framework) made with only a few minor changes.
- Replacing `readonly` properties with private fields and properties with private do nothing setters.
- Replace uses of the Range operator with the `SubStringSafe` extension methods.
- Explicitly specify the object type on the right hand of equals replacing `new()`