Sorting an Associated List by Associated Values

ID:786409
 
May 30 2012, 1:40 pm
So I decided that rather than plug and play a library, I would try to create my own mini library for sorting associated lists. Here's my creation:

    OrganizeNumbers(list/AS) //Associated List to sort by Associated Values
        if(!AS)
            world << "ERROR: No list."
            return
        world << "Organizing numbers..."
        var
            list/TempCount[] = list()
            i = 1
            Comparer    //Value to be compared to the list with
            h           //Holder. Holds the index of the Comparer for reference later
        while(Count.len > 0)
            if(i > AS.len)
                TempCount[AS[h]] = AS[AS[h]]
                AS.Remove(AS[h])
                i = 1
            if(AS.len)
                Comparer = AS[AS[i]]
                h = i
            for(i,i<=AS.len,i++)
                var/b = AS[AS[i]]
                if(Comparer < b)break
        var/b
        for(b=1,b<=TempCount.len,b++)
            AS[TempCount[b]] = TempCount[TempCount[b]]
        world << "List reorganized!"


It works great, but I wondered if my peers might have more efficient ideas or concepts?
#1 May 30 2012, 2:48 pm
An associated value can be non-numeric, can't it?

What happens if you put a mixed list into this?

What about a list of strings?

Atoms?

Some sort of modality to determine how to sort would be awesome, too. For example, ascending/descending numeric, ascending/descending text etc.
#2 May 30 2012, 2:53 pm
Haha I see what you mean! This is definitely more suited for strictly numerical comparisons. Is it even possible to compare a number versus an object? As for different sorting options, I think that's a great idea!
#3 May 30 2012, 2:57 pm
In response to Michael3131 (#2)
Michael3131 wrote:
Is it even possible to compare a number versus an object?

No, not really. You should probably add options for precedence. So we can choose if we want numbers, strings, or objects to be placed first.
#4 May 31 2012, 2:12 pm
In response to Michael3131 (#2)
Michael3131 wrote:
Is it even possible to compare a number versus an object?

The problem isn't whether or not you can, you just don't want it to crash your proc if/when it tries.