MFC STL: How can I sort a 'CArray' (or 'CStringArray', 'CIntArray', etc.)?

Q: How can I sort a 'CArray' (or 'CStringArray', 'CIntArray', etc.)?

A: If the CxxxArray's items can be compared, then use 'std::sort':

Ascending:

Code:

---

#include <algorithm>

CArray<int, int&> MyCArray;
CStringArray MyStringArray;

// Sort the CArray of ints</span>
std::sort(MyCArray.GetData(), MyCArray.GetData() + MyCArray.GetSize());

// Sort the CStringArray
std::sort(MyStringArray.GetData(), MyStringArray.GetData() + MyStringArray.GetSize());

---

Descending:

You need to supply a comparison function.

Code:

---

#include <algorithm>

bool SortDescendingInt(const int& x, const int& y)
{
  return x > y;
}

bool SortDescendingString(const CString& s1,
                          const CString& s2)
{
  return s1 > s2;
}

CArray<int, int> MyCArray;
CStringArray MyStringArray;

// Sort the CArray of ints
std::sort(MyCArray.GetData(),
          MyCArray.GetData() + MyCArray.GetSize(),
          SortDescendingInt);

// Sort the CStringArray
std::sort(MyStringArray.GetData(),
          MyStringArray.GetData() + MyStringArray.GetSize(),
          SortDescendingString);

---

FAQ contributed by: [Paul McKenzie]
<br><br>

One alternative solution is to use the ANSI C function qsort

Next example sorts ascending, non case-sensitive the elements of a CStringArray.

Code:

---

  CStringArray arr;

  arr.Add(_T("barbu")); // just for example
  arr.Add(_T("ANNA"));
  arr.Add(_T("ZOE"));
  arr.Add(_T("BUBU"));
  arr.Add(_T("bob"));
  arr.Add(_T("MIKI"));
  // ...

  qsort(arr.GetData(), arr.GetSize(), sizeof(CString*), CompareAscNoCase);

---

Code:

---

int CompareAscNoCase(const void* left, const void* right)
{
    return ((CString*)left)->CompareNoCase(*((CString*)right));
}

---

Beginning with Visual Studio 2010, can also handily use lambda expressions like in the following example:

Code:

---

    // ...
 
    bool bAscending = true;
    // ...
 
    std::sort(arr.GetData(), arr.GetData() + arr.GetSize(),                         
        [bAscending]                                            // lambda introducer
        (const CString& left, const CString& right)              // lambda formal parameters list
        { return bAscending ? (left < right) : (left > right); } // lambda body
        );
    // ...

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See also:

• Using Lambdas in MFC Applications – Part 1: Sorting Arrays