how to sort data in txt file

[soclose]

Hi All,

I want to sort data in a txt file like Notepad. But my data is like table format. i mean there are rows and columns data. I want to sort one column, A, in descending. after sorting it, all rows are sorted based on column A sorted order and saving these data to txt file. could we sort the data like this? if so, pls share me the way.

example,

Before Sorting

X Y Date Time Altitude Speed
N 90.1243 E 29.4532 09/30/2007 10:24:12AM 00:00:30 34 ft 0.8 mph
N 90.3456 E 29.3456 09/30/2007 10:24:12PM 00:10:30 10 ft 0.9 mph
N 90.2143 E 29.1254 09/30/2007 09:24:12AM 00:05:30 20 ft 0.8 mph
N 90.1043 E 29.3421 09/30/2007 06:24:12PM 00:25:30 34 ft 0.8 mph
N 90.1673 E 29.4562 09/30/2007 10:00:12AM 01:15:30 34 ft 0.6 mph


After Sorting(Main Sorting Column - Time)

X Y Date Time Altitude Speed
N 90.1673 E 29.4562 09/30/2007 10:00:12AM 01:15:30 34 ft 0.6 mph
N 90.1043 E 29.3421 09/30/2007 06:24:12PM 00:25:30 34 ft 0.8 mph
N 90.3456 E 29.3456 09/30/2007 10:24:12PM 00:10:30 10 ft 0.9 mph
N 90.2143 E 29.1254 09/30/2007 09:24:12AM 00:05:30 20 ft 0.8 mph
N 90.1243 E 29.4532 09/30/2007 10:24:12AM 00:00:30 34 ft 0.8 mph

[RaleTheBlade]

Create a structure to hold each line of data, then create a list of the structures and sort the list. Then write each of the structures contents sequentially to a file.

Optionally, you could do basically the same as above but implement the IComparable interface on the structures you created to hold the data and use the List<T>.Sort() method to sort the data based on the code you placed in the CompareTo() method implementation in each structure object.

[soclose]

could u give me an example? thanks

[cilu]

RaleTheBlade gave you all the info you need. Do some MSDN or web search for IComparable, Sort(), CompareTo() and you should be able to find the right sample by yourself.

[memeloo]

another soulution: you can create a datatable, fill it with your data and then sort it like described here http://www.csharpfriends.com/Forums/...x?PostID=36859

[soclose]

Hi RaleTheBlade and Cilu,

The data included and being formated in txt file is like my example above.

I got to sort data in txt file using struct, List<T>.Sort() and CompareTo(), but this txt file is imported to MapInfo software. Here, this software reads each whole row in this file as a column. (I added spaces to seperate them, and headers using streamWriter.WriteLine.) However, I want to make columns in txt file. How should I? should i use csv file or other file type? pls direct me a way.

When opening a txt file to Microsoft Excel, Excel ask us to choose file type : delimited or fixed width. The data columns in this txt file using fixed width can be read correctly by MapInfo software. I want to get a txt file like this.

[JonnyPoet]

The data columns in this txt file using fixed width can be read correctly by MapInfo software. I want to get a txt file like this.

So if you have fixed width you can esily change to whatever you want to get your data read into a struct or class whatever and then sorting it. You also can have a method in your struct that recreates the original, but osrted pattern and save it for example to a csv for excel or in the same format using fixed size as it was in the beginning

[soclose]

Hi All,

Now I got the right file type for MapInfo software. I made all sorted data to csv file. After getting it, it's so simple and easy. Thanks All.

Here, I found another file types : Delimited ASCII(*.txt) and MapInfo(*.tab). I searched their Info in MSDN but not. Please share me more info.