The following code example demonstrates the Sort(Comparison<(Of <(T>)>)) method overload.
The code example defines an alternative comparison method for strings, named CompareDinosByLength. This method works as follows: First, the comparands are tested for nullNothingnullptra null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic), and a null reference is treated as less than a non-null. Second, the string lengths are compared, and the longer string is deemed to be greater. Third, if the lengths are equal, ordinary string comparison is used.
A array of strings is created and populated with four strings, in no particular order. The list also includes an empty string and a null reference. The list is displayed, sorted using a Comparison<(Of <(T>)>) generic delegate representing the CompareDinosByLength method, and displayed again.
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Public Class Example
Private Shared Function CompareDinosByLength( _
ByVal x As String, ByVal y As String) As Integer
If x Is Nothing Then
If y Is Nothing Then
' If x is Nothing and y is Nothing, they're
' equal.
Return 0
Else
' If x is Nothing and y is not Nothing, y
' is greater.
Return -1
End If
Else
' If x is not Nothing...
'
If y Is Nothing Then
' ...and y is Nothing, x is greater.
Return 1
Else
' ...and y is not Nothing, compare the
' lengths of the two strings.
'
Dim retval As Integer = _
x.Length.CompareTo(y.Length)
If retval <> 0 Then
' If the strings are not of equal length,
' the longer string is greater.
'
Return retval
Else
' If the strings are of equal length,
' sort them with ordinary string comparison.
'
Return x.CompareTo(y)
End If
End If
End If
End Function
Public Shared Sub Main()
Dim dinosaurs() As String = { _
"Pachycephalosaurus", _
"Amargasaurus", _
"", _
Nothing, _
"Mamenchisaurus", _
"Deinonychus" }
Display(dinosaurs)
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Sort with generic Comparison(Of String) delegate:")
Array.Sort(dinosaurs, AddressOf CompareDinosByLength)
Display(dinosaurs)
End Sub
Private Shared Sub Display(ByVal arr() As String)
Console.WriteLine()
For Each s As String In arr
If s Is Nothing Then
Console.WriteLine("(Nothing)")
Else
Console.WriteLine("""{0}""", s)
End If
Next
End Sub
End Class
' This code example produces the following output:
'
'"Pachycephalosaurus"
'"Amargasaurus"
'""
'(Nothing)
'"Mamenchisaurus"
'"Deinonychus"
'
'Sort with generic Comparison(Of String) delegate:
'
'(Nothing)
'""
'"Deinonychus"
'"Amargasaurus"
'"Mamenchisaurus"
'"Pachycephalosaurus"
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class Example
{
private static int CompareDinosByLength(string x, string y)
{
if (x == null)
{
if (y == null)
{
// If x is null and y is null, they're
// equal.
return 0;
}
else
{
// If x is null and y is not null, y
// is greater.
return -1;
}
}
else
{
// If x is not null...
//
if (y == null)
// ...and y is null, x is greater.
{
return 1;
}
else
{
// ...and y is not null, compare the
// lengths of the two strings.
//
int retval = x.Length.CompareTo(y.Length);
if (retval != 0)
{
// If the strings are not of equal length,
// the longer string is greater.
//
return retval;
}
else
{
// If the strings are of equal length,
// sort them with ordinary string comparison.
//
return x.CompareTo(y);
}
}
}
}
public static void Main()
{
string[] dinosaurs = {
"Pachycephalosaurus",
"Amargasaurus",
"",
null,
"Mamenchisaurus",
"Deinonychus" };
Display(dinosaurs);
Console.WriteLine("\nSort with generic Comparison<string> delegate:");
Array.Sort(dinosaurs, CompareDinosByLength);
Display(dinosaurs);
}
private static void Display(string[] arr)
{
Console.WriteLine();
foreach( string s in arr )
{
if (s == null)
Console.WriteLine("(null)");
else
Console.WriteLine("\"{0}\"", s);
}
}
}
/* This code example produces the following output:
"Pachycephalosaurus"
"Amargasaurus"
""
(null)
"Mamenchisaurus"
"Deinonychus"
Sort with generic Comparison<string> delegate:
(null)
""
"Deinonychus"
"Amargasaurus"
"Mamenchisaurus"
"Pachycephalosaurus"
*/
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;
int CompareDinosByLength(String^ x, String^ y)
{
if (x == nullptr)
{
if (y == nullptr)
{
// If x is null and y is null, they're
// equal.
return 0;
}
else
{
// If x is null and y is not null, y
// is greater.
return -1;
}
}
else
{
// If x is not null...
//
if (y == nullptr)
// ...and y is null, x is greater.
{
return 1;
}
else
{
// ...and y is not null, compare the
// lengths of the two strings.
//
int retval = x->Length.CompareTo(y->Length);
if (retval != 0)
{
// If the strings are not of equal length,
// the longer string is greater.
//
return retval;
}
else
{
// If the strings are of equal length,
// sort them with ordinary string comparison.
//
return x->CompareTo(y);
}
}
}
};
void Display(array<String^>^ arr)
{
Console::WriteLine();
for each(String^ s in arr)
{
if (s == nullptr)
Console::WriteLine("(null)");
else
Console::WriteLine("\"{0}\"", s);
}
};
void main()
{
array<String^>^ dinosaurs = {
"Pachycephalosaurus",
"Amargasaurus",
"",
nullptr,
"Mamenchisaurus",
"Deinonychus" };
Display(dinosaurs);
Console::WriteLine("\nSort with generic Comparison<String^> delegate:");
Array::Sort(dinosaurs,
gcnew Comparison<String^>(CompareDinosByLength));
Display(dinosaurs);
}
/* This code example produces the following output:
"Pachycephalosaurus"
"Amargasaurus"
""
(null)
"Mamenchisaurus"
"Deinonychus"
Sort with generic Comparison<String^> delegate:
(null)
""
"Deinonychus"
"Amargasaurus"
"Mamenchisaurus"
"Pachycephalosaurus"
*/