_ArraySort issue with numbers

[james3mg]

Hey everyone -

I've got a script that uses _FileListToArray() to write in all the file names I want (it's a list of pictures...file names like image1.jpg, image 2.jpg, image 100.jpg, etc). I'd like to sort them so that they are arranged in logical order (like Explorer does):

image1.jpg
image2.jpg
image100.jpg

_ArraySort() seems the logical way to do this, but the problem is that the order comes out like:

image1.jpg
image100.jpg
image2.jpg

because the numbers aren't read together as a single number, but rather as individual number characters, so everything with "1" after "image" will be grouped together before anything with a "2" after "image".

Interestingly, I thought maybe grabbing output from a CMD window would be good enough, but CMD sorts numbers 'per character' rather than as a single number too! Seems only Explorer is smart enough to sort the way I'd like.

The only way I can think of to make my own sorting function would be to use RegExp to find anywhere there are multiple numbers adjacent to each other, then pad all those places in the whole list with enough zeros that the numbers would get sorted correctly, then go through and use RegExpReplace to get rid of the extra zeros again. This process sounds quite error-prone to me, but I can't come up with anything better. Any code wizards out there come up with a better method for pulling this off that they could share, or at least some insights as to how they'd go about doing it so I can give it a shot myself?

Thanks :-D

[randallc]

Hi,

I think vbs sorts the way you want; try the sort in "Array2D.au3" [link in sig] UDF Fieldsort to check [which is vbs with subsort]

I don't have time right now.

Best, randallNo vbs does not, sorry

Edited December 5, 2007 by randallc

[james3mg]

Hi,

I think vbs sorts the way you want; try the sort in "Array2D.au3" [link in sig] UDF Fieldsort to check [which is vbs with subsort]

I don't have time right now.

Best, randall

Thanks for the suggestion - just saw your followup note: thanks for trying.

Anyway, I tried it before I saw your note and got

Array2d.au3 (418) : ==> The requested action with this object has failed.:

$ar_Temp = $vbs.run ("Quick_SortColumn1", $ar_Temp, $i_Asc, $First, $Last, $i_ViewColNum)

$ar_Temp = $vbs.run ("Quick_SortColumn1", $ar_Temp, $i_Asc, $First, $Last, $i_ViewColNum)^ ERROR

Your functions look powerful - I'd like to play with them, but with errors like that I can't. Do I have to have VB studio installed or something?

Anyway, I don't want to get off on a tangent - I'd still love someone's brainstorm on how to do this efficiently. (sp?)

-Later

Edited December 5, 2007 by james3mg

[weaponx]

I've got your back. All I need to know is, do all the filenames begin with "image"???

If so, here is the solution:

#include <array.au3>

Dim $array[4] = ["image1.jpg", "image100.jpg", "image2.jpg", "image200.jpg"]

_ArrayDisplay($array)
_ArrayLogicalSort($array, "image")
_ArrayDisplay($array)

Func _ArrayLogicalSort(ByRef $theArray, $leadingString)
    For $X = 0 to Ubound($theArray) - 1
        For $Y = $X to Ubound($theArray) - 1
            If Number(StringTrimLeft(StringTrimRight($theArray[$Y], 4), StringLen($leadingString))) < Number(StringTrimLeft(StringTrimRight($theArray[$X], 4), StringLen($leadingString))) Then
                $temp = $theArray[$Y]
                $theArray[$Y] = $theArray[$X]
                $theArray[$X] = $temp
            EndIf
        Next
    Next
EndFunc

Edited December 5, 2007 by weaponx

[Richard Robertson]

Explorer will sort by reading the whole number only if you have NT 4 or above, and have the option not disabled. There's a switch somewhere in the registry that controls it.

[randallc]

Your functions look powerful - I'd like to play with them, but with errors like that I can't. Do I have to have VB studio installed or something?

Hi,

OK

If you want to see it working, go to link with "SearchMiner"; that fast sorts LV by column on subsorts via vbs routine.

Not sure why you got your error; maybe show the script... you need WinXP or better, I think, for the "Scripting Object" to be installed.

[i have made workarounds to just use vbs scripts on Win 98, without Scripting Object; then Win98 just needs vbs5 installed]

best, randall

[randallc]

Hi,

Or go to "Array2D" in link in signature now, [current AutoIt version 3.2.10.0]

or, zip file for working example;

Array2D10Best, Randall

Edited December 6, 2007 by randallc

[james3mg]

I've got your back. All I need to know is, do all the filenames begin with "image"???

If so, here is the solution:

#include <array.au3>

Dim $array[4] = ["image1.jpg", "image100.jpg", "image2.jpg", "image200.jpg"]

_ArrayDisplay($array)
_ArrayLogicalSort($array, "image")
_ArrayDisplay($array)

Func _ArrayLogicalSort(ByRef $theArray, $leadingString)
    For $X = 0 to Ubound($theArray) - 1
        For $Y = $X to Ubound($theArray) - 1
            If Number(StringTrimLeft(StringTrimRight($theArray[$Y], 4), StringLen($leadingString))) < Number(StringTrimLeft(StringTrimRight($theArray[$X], 4), StringLen($leadingString))) Then
                $temp = $theArray[$Y]
                $theArray[$Y] = $theArray[$X]
                $theArray[$X] = $temp
            EndIf
        Next
    Next
EndFunc

Wow...that's a lot less 'shuffling' numbers around than I'd have been able to get it done in!

Unfortunately to your question...no. I was just using that as an example. I'd like to come up with a way that the function can sort ANY list, and if there are multi-digit numbers in the list, sort them 'logically' rather than alphanum. But your example may help me get started, thanks! ...now I've got to get my head back around regexps again.

Edited December 6, 2007 by james3mg

[weaponx]

Wow...that's a lot less 'shuffling' numbers around than I'd have been able to get it done in!

Unfortunately to your question...no. I was just using that as an example. I'd like to come up with a way that the function can sort ANY list, and if there are multi-digit numbers in the list, sort them 'logically' rather than alphanum. But your example may help me get started, thanks! ...now I've got to get my head back around regexps again.

I'm perplexed as to how Microsloth does the sorting. I'm guessing each individual character is compared and if one happens to be a digit, it ....dear god i've gone crosseyed.

Here is another version that accepts files in this format %NON-NUMBERS%%NUMBERS% (without the % obviously), the numeric digits will be padded with zeroes for comparison. Still pretty far off from an all-encompassing solution.

#include <array.au3>

Dim $array[4] = ["image1.jpg", "image100.jpg", "image2.jpg", "image200.jpg"]

_ArrayDisplay($array)
_ArrayLogicalSort2($array)
_ArrayDisplay($array)

Func _ArrayLogicalSort2(ByRef $theArray)
        $padLength = 0
        
        ;Determine pad length
        For $X = 0 to Ubound($theArray) - 1
            ;[0] = Leading non-numeric [1] = trailing numeric
            $fileNameArray = StringRegExp($theArray[$X], "(\D*)(\d*)\.", 1)
            If NOT @ERROR Then
                $currLength = StringLen($fileNameArray[1])
                If $currLength > $padLength Then $padLength = $currLength
            EndIf
        Next
        
        ;Sort by padding trailing digits
        For $X = 0 to Ubound($theArray) - 1
            $tempArrayX = StringRegExp($theArray[$X], "(\D*)(\d*)\.", 1)
            If NOT @ERROR Then
                For $Y = $X to Ubound($theArray) - 1
                    $tempArrayY = StringRegExp($theArray[$Y], "(\D*)(\d*)\.", 1)
                    If Number(StringFormat("%0" & $padLength & "d", $tempArrayY[1])) < Number(StringFormat("%0" & $padLength & "d", $tempArrayX[1])) Then
                        $temp = $theArray[$Y]
                        $theArray[$Y] = $theArray[$X]
                        $theArray[$X] = $temp
                    EndIf
                Next
            EndIf
        Next
EndFunc

Edited December 6, 2007 by weaponx

[james3mg]

I've finally written a function that will do this; go to this topic for the UDF.

Later!