Array sorting, a clarification

[Terenz]

Hi guys,

I have a multiple array with some information, like name, address, date etc.

For example for the birth date, this is the correct ( and fastest, the main thing ) approach?

#include <Array.au3>

Global $aTEMP[15][2]

For $x = 1 To UBound($aTEMP, 1) - 1
    $aTEMP[$x][1] = StringFormat("%02i", Random(1,31,1)) & "/" & StringFormat("%02i", Random(1,12,1)) & "/" & Random(1960,2015,1)
    $aTEMP[$x][0] = $x
Next
_ArrayDisplay($aTEMP, "ORIGINAL")

Local $iDay, $iMonth, $iYear
For $x = 1 To UBound($aTEMP, 1) - 1
    $iDay = StringLeft($aTEMP[$x][1], 2)
    $iMonth = StringMid ($aTEMP[$x][1], 4, 2)
    $iYear = StringRight($aTEMP[$x][1], 4)
    $aTEMP[$x][1] = $iYear & $iMonth & $iDay
Next
_ArrayDisplay($aTEMP, "CONVERTED")
_ArraySort($aTEMP, 0, 1, 0, 1)
_ArrayDisplay($aTEMP, "SORTED")

For $x = 1 To UBound($aTEMP, 1) - 1
    $iDay = StringRight($aTEMP[$x][1], 2)
    $iMonth = StringMid($aTEMP[$x][1], 5, 2)
    $iYear = StringLeft($aTEMP[$x][1], 4)
    $aTEMP[$x][1] = $iDay & "/" & $iMonth & "/" & $iYear
Next
_ArrayDisplay($aTEMP, "FINAL")

If yes, for "numbers" i can use always the same method. If not, please provide a better example so i can study it.

Second question. If i have a list of file path in a file, how i can sort it in a correct way? I don't think i need to apply directly ArraySort, and yes is always a 2D array like before [number,path] There is an example for 2D path sorting?

Thanks for any help

Edited March 26, 2015 by Terenz

[Melba23]

Terenz,

In my tests using StringSplit is significantly faster:

#include <Array.au3>
#include <Date.au3>

Global $aTEMP[1500][2]

For $x = 1 To UBound($aTEMP, 1) - 1
    $aTEMP[$x][1] = StringFormat("%02i", Random(1,31,1)) & "/" & StringFormat("%02i", Random(1,12,1)) & "/" & Random(1960,2015,1)
    $aTEMP[$x][0] = $x
Next

$aCopy = $aTEMP

$nBegin = TimerInit()
Local $iDay, $iMonth, $iYear
For $x = 1 To UBound($aTEMP, 1) - 1
    $iDay = StringLeft($aTEMP[$x][1], 2)
    $iMonth = StringMid ($aTEMP[$x][1], 4, 2)
    $iYear = StringRight($aTEMP[$x][1], 4)
    $aTEMP[$x][1] = $iYear & $iMonth & $iDay
Next
ConsoleWrite(TimerDiff($nBegin) & @CRLF)
_ArrayDisplay($aTEMP, "CONVERTED")

$nBegin = TimerInit()
For $i = 1 To UBound($aCopy) - 1
    $aSplit = StringSplit($aCopy[$i][1], "/")
    $aCopy[$i][1] = $aSplit[3] & $aSplit[2] & $aSplit[1]
Next
ConsoleWrite(TimerDiff($nBegin) & @CRLF)

_ArraySort($aTEMP, 0, 1, 0, 1)
_ArrayDisplay($aTEMP, "SORTED")

As to sorting numbers, as far as I know you need to get the content of the elements to be sorted into purely numerical format (and into a number datatype if there is a decimal point).

As to the "path sorting" question - what do you mean by "correct way"? If you mean getting subfolders correctly placed beneath the parents as in a folder tree then the problem becomes quite complex - and there is an example of how this might be done in FileListToArrayRec. The inclusion of this sorting routine in the UDF led to a lot of unpleasantness, but if you want a properly ordered list you need to do a fair amount of work - as I found out when writing the sort routine.

M23

[Terenz]

Mmm from my test is the opposite?

18.7792023846606
22.6850060552389

18.71047856641
19.7969294980228

18.1718626249984
18.7280785686449

18.9862119347571
20.0296406386845

18.0754816603786
16.6090941725834 ;<<<<<<<<<<<<<

18.7881420683355
20.629437540246

A single line seems also faster:

$aTEMP[$x][1] = StringRight($aTEMP[$x][1], 4) & StringMid ($aTEMP[$x][1], 4, 2) & StringLeft($aTEMP[$x][1], 2)

14.9655892019796
17.1309482071045

14.8172463259995
21.1283836353503

14.9063637976335
18.2785800988673

14.3839510328827
18.7459579359947

Only one time StringSplit was faster then mine, anyway are very very similar. For path, sorry but i don't have understand how to procede. I can't use FileListToArrayRec because i'l ready have a list and this list aren't file from my PC but from another one in LAN

Edited March 26, 2015 by Terenz

[Melba23]

Terenz,

My tests always showed a significant speed advantage to the StringSplit code - particularly with larger arrays.

I was not suggesting that you use FilelistToArrayRec, just informing you that there exists a sorting routine within that UDF to sort a list of paths into a hierarchical order - which might be of some use to you if that is what you were trying to do. It is not a trivial task (I blame that section of code for a lot of my grey hairs) and I would be delighted to help you try and code something if you wish.

M23

[Terenz]

I have used your script from post #2 and i don't have change nothing, i have just run it more than once time and copy-paste the result of ConsoleWrite on this thread. Strange we have different result from the same script...

With:

Global $aTEMP[15000][2]

Result are:

153.76060365214
192.241472030663

154.84398156749
171.264504287556

154.063435436627
170.659678813927

I don't want to "win" ( i don't care, i want to use the faster version ) but i don't see the difference in favor of StringSplit, i see the opposite. Someone can confirm?

About the file path, maybe i need to use _RFLTA_ArraySort? That code is complex, I'm congratulate with you but i'll never script anything like that like in my life. But is for 1D array, i need for 2D...can you "improve" it?

Edited March 26, 2015 by Terenz

[Melba23]

Terenz,

If you give me a copy of the list you want to sort and what you require as an output, I will see what I can do.

M23

[Terenz]

Thank you. I'm at work now, when i'll go at home i'll give you a reproducer