C# List<> Sort by x then y

Question

Similar to List<> OrderBy Alphabetical Order, we want to sort by one element, then another. we want to achieve the functional equivalent of

SELECT * from Table ORDER BY x, y  

We have a class that contains a number of sorting functions, and we have no issues sorting by one element.
For example:

public class MyClass {
    public int x;
    public int y;
}  

List<MyClass> MyList;

public void SortList() {
    MyList.Sort( MySortingFunction );
}

And we have the following in the list:

Unsorted     Sorted(x)     Desired
---------    ---------    ---------
ID   x  y    ID   x  y    ID   x  y
[0]  0  1    [2]  0  2    [0]  0  1
[1]  1  1    [0]  0  1    [2]  0  2
[2]  0  2    [1]  1  1    [1]  1  1
[3]  1  2    [3]  1  2    [3]  1  2

Stable sort would be preferable, but not required. Solution that works for .Net 2.0 is welcome.

Answer 1

For versions of .Net where you can use LINQ OrderBy and ThenBy (or ThenByDescending if needed):

using System.Linq;
....
List<SomeClass>() a;
List<SomeClass> b = a.OrderBy(x => x.x).ThenBy(x => x.y).ToList();

---

Note: for .Net 2.0 (or if you can't use LINQ) see Hans Passant answer to this question.

Answer 2

Do keep in mind that you don't need a stable sort if you compare all members. The 2.0 solution, as requested, can look like this:

 public void SortList() {
     MyList.Sort(delegate(MyClass a, MyClass b)
     {
         int xdiff = a.x.CompareTo(b.x);
         if (xdiff != 0) return xdiff;
         else return a.y.CompareTo(b.y);
     });
 }

Do note that this 2.0 solution is still preferable over the popular 3.5 Linq solution, it performs an in-place sort and does not have the O(n) storage requirement of the Linq approach. Unless you prefer the original List object to be untouched of course.

Answer 3

The trick is to implement a stable sort. I've created a Widget class that can contain your test data:

public class Widget : IComparable
{
    int x;
    int y;
    public int X
    {
        get { return x; }
        set { x = value; }
    }

    public int Y
    {
        get { return y; }
        set { y = value; }
    }

    public Widget(int argx, int argy)
    {
        x = argx;
        y = argy;
    }

    public int CompareTo(object obj)
    {
        int result = 1;
        if (obj != null && obj is Widget)
        {
            Widget w = obj as Widget;
            result = this.X.CompareTo(w.X);
        }
        return result;
    }

    static public int Compare(Widget x, Widget y)
    {
        int result = 1;
        if (x != null && y != null)                
        {                
            result = x.CompareTo(y);
        }
        return result;
    }
}

I implemented IComparable, so it can be unstably sorted by List.Sort().

However, I also implemented the static method Compare, which can be passed as a delegate to a search method.

I borrowed this insertion sort method from C# 411:

 public static void InsertionSort<T>(IList<T> list, Comparison<T> comparison)
        {           
            int count = list.Count;
            for (int j = 1; j < count; j++)
            {
                T key = list[j];

                int i = j - 1;
                for (; i >= 0 && comparison(list[i], key) > 0; i--)
                {
                    list[i + 1] = list[i];
                }
                list[i + 1] = key;
            }
    }

You would put this in the sort helpers class that you mentioned in your question.

Now, to use it:

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List<Widget> widgets = new List<Widget>();

        widgets.Add(new Widget(0, 1));
        widgets.Add(new Widget(1, 1));
        widgets.Add(new Widget(0, 2));
        widgets.Add(new Widget(1, 2));

        InsertionSort<Widget>(widgets, Widget.Compare);

        foreach (Widget w in widgets)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(w.X + ":" + w.Y);
        }
    }

And it outputs:

0:1
0:2
1:1
1:2
Press any key to continue . . .

This could probably be cleaned up with some anonymous delegates, but I'll leave that up to you.

EDIT: And NoBugz demonstrates the power of anonymous methods...so, consider mine more oldschool :P