Thread: Sorting strings in an array

Hi everyone,
Im trying to sort my array of student details by registration number. I have no idea how to go about it, but here is my code so far if anyone can help.

[CODE]
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>

char seps[] = " , ";
char *token;

typedef enum Menu { FIRST = 1, NEXT, PREVIOUS, LAST, SORT, EXIT };

typedef struct
{
char fName[10];
char lName[10];
char regNo[9];
char doB[30];} PERSON;

PERSON student[10];

studenttemp[20];

EnterChoice(); // display main menu
void firstRec(); // view First record
void nextRec(); // view Next record
void previousRec(); // view Previous record
void lastRec(); // view Last record
void sortRec(); // Sort records by Registration Number

char choice;
int i;
int counter;
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
int main()
{
char s[100];
FILE * f;
int len, i;
i=-1;
f = fopen("c:\\students.txt","r");

for ( ; ; ) {
fgets(s, 100, f);
if feof(f) break;
len = strlen(s);
if (len) { s[len] = 0;}
if (i>=9) break;
i++;
{
token = strtok( s, seps ); strcpy(student[i].fName, token);
token = strtok( NULL, seps ); strcpy(student[i].lName, token);
token = strtok( NULL, seps ); strcpy(student[i].regNo, token);
token = strtok( NULL, seps ); strcpy(student[i].doB, token);

}
}

fclose(f);



while ( ( choice = EnterChoice() ) != EXIT ) // menu loop
{
switch ( choice )
{
case FIRST: firstRec(); break;
case NEXT: nextRec(); break;
case PREVIOUS: previousRec(); break;
case LAST: lastRec(); break;
case SORT: sortRec(); break;
}
}
}
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EnterChoice()
{
printf( "\nEnter your choice\n"
"1 - View first record\n"
"2 - View next record\n"
"3 - View previous record\n"
"4 - View last record\n"
"5 - Sort records by Registration Number\n"
"6 - End program\n? " );
scanf( "%d", &choice );
return choice;
}

void firstRec()
{
counter=0;
printf("\nFirst Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].fName);
printf("Last Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].lName);
printf("Registration Number: %s\n\n", student[counter].regNo);
printf("Date of Birth: %s\n", student[counter].doB);
}
void nextRec()
{
++counter;
if (counter >=10)
{
printf("\nThere are no more records to view!\n\n");
}
else
{
printf("\nFirst Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].fName);
printf("Last Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].lName);
printf("Registration Number: %s\n\n", student[counter].regNo);
printf("Date of Birth: %s\n", student[counter].doB);
}
}
void previousRec()
{
--counter;
if (counter <=-1)
{
printf("\nThere are no more records to view!\n\n");
}
else
{
printf("\nFirst Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].fName);
printf("Last Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].lName);
printf("Registration Number: %s\n\n", student[counter].regNo);
printf("Date of Birth: %s\n", student[counter].doB);
}
}
void lastRec()
{
counter=9;
printf("\nFirst Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].fName);
printf("Last Name: %s\n\n", student[counter].lName);
printf("Registration Number: %s\n\n", student[counter].regNo);
printf("Date of Birth: %s\n", student[counter].doB);
}

void sortRec() // Sort records by Registration Number
{

printf("\nRecords now sorted by Registration Number.\n\n");
}
[CODE]

cheers
John

hi,

as u have declared the regNo as const char * u can use the strcmp function and sort the records as -

Code:

void sortRec() // Sort records by Registration Number
{
	int i,j;
	PERSON tp;
	printf("\nRecords now sorted by Registration Number.\n\n");
    for(i=0;i<9;i++)
	{
		for(j=i+1;j<10;j++)
		{
			if(strcmp(student[i].regNo,student[j].regNo) > 0) 
			{
				tp=student[i];
				student[i]=student[j];
				student[j]=tp;
			}
		}
	}
	printf("\nFirst Name  Last Name  Registration Number  DOB\n"); 
	for(i=0;i<10;i++)
	{
		printf("\n%s ", student[i].fName);
		printf("%s ", student[i].lName);
		printf("%s ", student[i].regNo);
		printf("%s", student[i].doB);
	}
}

use this code in ur prgm and u prgm will run sucessfully. do not give up. think laterally and get the ideas.

bye
Praveen

Hey Praveen,
Thanks very much man.
Thanks a Million!

Its all become so clear to me now!

Dont want to be cheeky, but any chance you could help me with my final problem?
I want the sort function to sort the registration numbers by 97, 98, 99, 00, 01 etc. at the moment it works by 00, 01, 02, 97, 98, 99 etc. Any ideas?

Cheers
and thanks again.

John

If I can ever help you just drop me a line:
[email protected]