Sorting "numerical strings"

**dirkduck** · 01-18-2003

Hey everyone. I'm making a program that inputs a "serial number", and its associated description. Anyways, I write it all to a file (the number and description), then I read it into two arrays, a serial array and a description array (so serial[x]'s description would be desc[x]). Anyways, I was just using a normal quicksort to sort the serials and then whenever one of them got switched, I'd switch its associated description, so the descriptions didnt get mixed up. Anyways, realizing that I would be using "many digit" serial numbers, integers/doubles...etc no longer would do it. I switched all the serial "numerbs" to actually be character arrays, just with only digits, so they could be as long as I need them to. The problem is I'm stuck on how to sort the serial numbers (along with their assiciated descriptions) in numerical order, being that they are now char's. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks!

**grib** · 01-18-2003

start off by having one std::vector of structs having a serial number and a discription. Second as long as serial numbers are all of the same length then they will sort correctly, even as chars. If they are of different lengths then the shorter comes first.

Code:

struct record {
    std::string sn;
    std::string desc;
    bool operator < (const record & rhs) const {
        if(sn.length() == rhs.sn.length()) return sn < rhs.sn;
        else return (sn.length() < rhs.sn.length());
    }
}

**dirkduck** · 01-18-2003

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

**PJYelton** · 01-18-2003

I believe you can do the same thing. When you compare two chars with '>' or '<' it compares their ASCII value, which since the ASCII for '1' is less than '2' etc it should sort no differently than if they were all number based variables.

[edit] dang I'm slow! [/edit]

**JoeSixpack** · 01-18-2003

Something like -

Code:

#include <map>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{

	map <string,string> serialmap;

	serialmap["1231235"] = "Something";
	serialmap["211s121"] = "Nothing";
	serialmap["bjkbkj87"] = "All";

	cout << serialmap["211s121"];
	
	return 0;	

}

Then you don't have to worry about sorting.

**dirkduck** · 01-18-2003

PJYelton:

I was thinking about that, but I wasnt sure, I was thinking that if one of them was "09999999" and the other was "10000000", then although the latter is larger, the other would have a higher value because of the 9's. Could be wrong though...

**PJYelton** · 01-18-2003

Doesn't it only compare lengths if the two strings are equal up to the end of the shorter one? So that way "1234" comes before "12345" and also comes before "23"?

And I think your example should still work dirkduck, it just compares the first char, only moves to the next one if the first is equal.

**dirkduck** · 01-18-2003

Ah, got it. It seems to be working now at least, thanks for the help everyone!

Thread: Sorting "numerical strings"

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Sorting "numerical strings"

Similar Threads

Sorting algorithms, worst-case input

Sorting problem with structures and arrays, could I get some guidance?

Need help with linked list sorting function

sorting structure members using pointers

Still Needing Help : selection sorting