How to: Sort or Filter Text Data by Any Word or Field (LINQ)
The following example shows how to sort lines of structured text, such as comma-separated values, by any field in the line. The field may be dynamically specified at runtime. Assume that the fields in scores.csv represent a student's ID number, followed by a series of four test scores.
To create a file that contains data
- Copy the scores.csv data from the topic How to: Join Content from Dissimilar Files (LINQ) and save it to your solution folder.
Example
Class SortLines
Shared Sub Main()
Dim scores As String() = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines("../../../scores.csv")
' Change this to any value from 0 to 4
Dim sortField As Integer = 1
Console.WriteLine("Sorted highest to lowest by field " & sortField)
' Demonstrates how to return query from a method.
' The query is executed here.
For Each str As String In SortQuery(scores, sortField)
Console.WriteLine(str)
Next
' Keep console window open in debug mode.
Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.")
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
Shared Function SortQuery(ByVal source As IEnumerable(Of String), ByVal num As Integer) _
As IEnumerable(Of String)
Dim scoreQuery = From line In source _
Let fields = line.Split(New Char() {","c}) _
Order By fields(num) Descending _
Select line
Return scoreQuery
End Function
End Class
' Output:
' Sorted highest to lowest by field 1
' 116, 99, 86, 90, 94
' 120, 99, 82, 81, 79
' 111, 97, 92, 81, 60
' 114, 97, 89, 85, 82
' 121, 96, 85, 91, 60
' 122, 94, 92, 91, 91
' 117, 93, 92, 80, 87
' 118, 92, 90, 83, 78
' 113, 88, 94, 65, 91
' 112, 75, 84, 91, 39
' 119, 68, 79, 88, 92
' 115, 35, 72, 91, 70
public class SortLines
{
static void Main()
{
// Create an IEnumerable data source
string[] scores = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines(@"../../../scores.csv");
// Change this to any value from 0 to 4.
int sortField = 1;
Console.WriteLine("Sorted highest to lowest by field [{0}]:", sortField);
// Demonstrates how to return query from a method.
// The query is executed here.
foreach (string str in RunQuery(scores, sortField))
{
Console.WriteLine(str);
}
// Keep the console window open in debug mode.
Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit");
Console.ReadKey();
}
// Returns the query variable, not query results!
static IEnumerable<string> RunQuery(IEnumerable<string> source, int num)
{
// Split the string and sort on field[num]
var scoreQuery = from line in source
let fields = line.Split(',')
orderby fields[num] descending
select line;
return scoreQuery;
}
}
/* Output (if sortField == 1):
Sorted highest to lowest by field [1]:
116, 99, 86, 90, 94
120, 99, 82, 81, 79
111, 97, 92, 81, 60
114, 97, 89, 85, 82
121, 96, 85, 91, 60
122, 94, 92, 91, 91
117, 93, 92, 80, 87
118, 92, 90, 83, 78
113, 88, 94, 65, 91
112, 75, 84, 91, 39
119, 68, 79, 88, 92
115, 35, 72, 91, 70
*/
This example also demonstrates how to return a query variable from a Function (Visual Basic) or method (C#).
Compiling the Code
Create a Visual Studio project that targets the .NET Framework version 3.5. By default, the project has a reference to System.Core.dll and a using directive (C#) or Imports statement (Visual Basic) for the System.Linq namespace. In C# projects, add a using directive for the System.IO namespace.
Copy this code into your project.
Press F5 to compile and run the program.
Press any key to exit the console window.