The following code example demonstrates the use of the Comparison delegate with the Sort 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 a 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 List 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 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 New List(Of String)
dinosaurs.Add("Pachycephalosaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Amargasaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("")
dinosaurs.Add(Nothing)
dinosaurs.Add("Mamenchisaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Deinonychus")
Display(dinosaurs)
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Sort with generic Comparison(Of String) delegate:")
dinosaurs.Sort(AddressOf CompareDinosByLength)
Display(dinosaurs)
End Sub
Private Shared Sub Display(ByVal lis As List(Of String))
Console.WriteLine()
For Each s As String In lis
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()
{
List<string> dinosaurs = new List<string>();
dinosaurs.Add("Pachycephalosaurus");
dinosaurs.Add("Amargasaurus");
dinosaurs.Add("");
dinosaurs.Add(null);
dinosaurs.Add("Mamenchisaurus");
dinosaurs.Add("Deinonychus");
Display(dinosaurs);
Console.WriteLine("\nSort with generic Comparison<string> delegate:");
dinosaurs.Sort(CompareDinosByLength);
Display(dinosaurs);
}
private static void Display(List<string> list)
{
Console.WriteLine();
foreach( string s in list )
{
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(List<String^>^ list)
{
Console::WriteLine();
for each(String^ s in list)
{
if (s == nullptr)
Console::WriteLine("(null)");
else
Console::WriteLine("\"{0}\"", s);
}
};
void main()
{
List<String^>^ dinosaurs = gcnew List<String^>();
dinosaurs->Add("Pachycephalosaurus");
dinosaurs->Add("Amargasaurus");
dinosaurs->Add("");
dinosaurs->Add(nullptr);
dinosaurs->Add("Mamenchisaurus");
dinosaurs->Add("Deinonychus");
Display(dinosaurs);
Console::WriteLine("\nSort with generic Comparison<String^> delegate:");
dinosaurs->Sort(
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"
*/