Sorting a list of mixed integers and strings

Question

I have a list with data that contains mixed numbers and strings, when i sort using

var list = thelist.OrderBy(p=>p.ColumnWithValues)

I would get results in the following order:

> 1, 1 item, 10, 2, 3, 4, 5, a, another 1, b

But i want them to be in the order below:

> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 1 item,a, another 1, b

How would I go about doing this? I'm not even sure what to try with a list of multiple properties

update:

I've fixed my sample data, is what i'm looking to do possible?

From where "another 1" came from? – Sajeetharan Jun 03 '14 at 08:59 — Sajeetharan, Jun 03 '14 at 08:59
And why does `1 item` disappear from the required output? – Matthew Watson Jun 03 '14 at 09:00 — Matthew Watson, Jun 03 '14 at 09:00
@Matthew It's called a magic sort – user703016 Jun 03 '14 at 09:01 — user703016, Jun 03 '14 at 09:01

Perfect28 · Answer 1 · 2015-03-10T16:17:28.190

3

You should sort by type first :

var list = thelist.OrderBy(p=> p.GetType() == typeof(string)).ThenBy(p => p)

edited Mar 10 '15 at 16:17

answered Jun 03 '14 at 09:00

Perfect28

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 03 '14 at 09:22

Also try this.

var thelist = new[] {"1", "item", "10", "2", "3", "4", "5", "a", "b", "c"};
        var list = thelist.Where( num => num.All( x => char.IsDigit( x ) ) )
                  .OrderBy( r => { int z; int.TryParse( r, out z ); return z; } )
                  .Union( thelist.Where( str => str.All( x => !char.IsDigit( x ) ) )
                  .OrderBy( q => q ) );

         foreach (var i in list)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(i.ToString());

            }

And here is the .net fiddle to check...

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 03 '14 at 10:28

0

Resolved by writing a class containing using IComparer

implemented by using:

thelist.OrderBy(p => p.ColumnWithValues, new OrdinalStringComparer());

answered Jun 03 '14 at 10:28

Sam Jones

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score 0 · Answer 4 · edited May 10 '18 at 14:36

0

var list = thelist.OrderBy(p=> p.GetType() == typeof(string)).ThenBy(p => p)

Above is exactly working for me.

Actual list = { "(unknown)", "(unknown)", "(unknown)", 
                "183", "so", "Mo", "170", "Opps" , "(unknown)" }
Expected list = { "(unknown)", "(unknown)", "(unknown)", 
                  "(unknown)", "170","183", "Mo" ,"Opps", "so" }

edited May 10 '18 at 14:36

perror

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answered May 10 '18 at 14:16

M Singh

1

Sorting a list of mixed integers and strings

4 Answers4