How to Sort a Generic List

Sorting a generic list is useful in generating a structured record of whatever items you may have in your list. This application is useful in collating customer records, a vendor directory, or even a membership roster. As long as you have a list of items you need to organize, you can put all your data into your code and let the computer sort everything out. There are hundreds of programming languages you can use to implement the sorting of generic lists. Here are a few:
Visual Basic
Java
C#
Visual C
C++
Jscript
VB.NET
ASP.NET
Most of the commands for sorting generic lists are similar throughout different programming languages. This article provides the steps and sample code for sorting a generic list using C#.

Things You'll Need

• Programming application

Instructions

1. Determine the generic list you want to sort. You can use a club's membership roster, for example.

2. Break down the elements of your generic list into sortable attributes. For example: First name and last name; Age and sex; etc.

3. Add your attributes into the generic list code. The following sample code shows how you can put the Age and Name attributes of your membership roster into a list:
   class Member
   {
   private int _ Age;
   private string _ Name;

   public int Age
   {
   get
   {
   return _ Age;
   }
   set
   {
   _Age = value;
   }
   }
   public string Name
   {
   get
   {
   return _Name;
   }
   set
   {
   _Name = value;
   }
   }
   }

4. Add the Membership generic list (also known as the Business Object) into your program by using this line of code:
   List<Member> cuslist = new List<Member>();

5. Use the following overload to sort your generic list:
   List.Sort ()

6. Implement the overload in your program with the following sample code:
   class Member: IComparable < Member >
   {
   //Members
   //1st Overload
   public int CompareTo(Member mem)
   {
   return this.Name.CompareTo(mem.Name);
   }
   }

7. Enter the membership details (first name and age) into the generic list of your code:
   List < Member > cuslist1 = new List < Member > ();
   Member mem1 = new Member();
   mem1.Name = "Alice";
   mem1.Age = 21;
   memlist1.Add(mem1);

   Member mem2 = new Member();
   mem2.Name = "Gina";
   mem2.Age = 27;
   memlist1.Add(mem2);

   Member mem3 = new Member();
   mem3.Name = "Leticia";
   mem3.Age = 39;
   memlist1.Add(mem3);

   Member mem4 = new Member();
   mem4.Name = "Sandra";
   mem4.Age = 23;
   memlist1.Add(mem4);

   Member mem5 = new Member();
   mem5.Name = "Donna";
   mem5.Age = 29;
   memlist1.Add(mem5);

   memlist1.Sort();
   foreach (Member mem in memlist1)
   {
   Console.WriteLine(mem.Name + " " + mem.Age);
   }

8. Compile your program and run the sorted generic list to get the following result:
   Alice 21
   Donna 29
   Gina 27
   Leticia 39
   Sandra 23

9. Implement additional overloads, as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Download free sample code when you can; there are many resources over the Internet. Using free code saves you time and money.

• Work with the programming language you are most comfortable with. Many programming software are easy to learn and use, such as Visual Basic and Java.

References

• Sorting in Visual Basic, C#, Visual C++, and JScript
• Sorting in ASP.NET

Resources

• Sorting in VB.NET