Which Multiple-Criteria Sorting algorithm to use?

Question

Lets' say we have list of items, each item has (unknown)number of attributes. Sorting by single attribute is a simple sort algorithm. The question is: how to sort the same list ordering by all attributes? Each attribute has a weight, so we might sort by least important attribute first and then by more important attribute using stable sort algorithm and so on, but this is clearly not efficient.

Thanks.

Answer 1

SORT BY A,B,C

Your comparison inside the sort will: A,B,C are in highest to lowest prioerity

• Compare Element 1's A with Element 2's A
• • If greater or less return result
• • Else Compare B
• • • If greater or less return result
• • • Else Compare C return result

This can be extrapolated to A..n criteria with a simple loop.

• For Each Criteria in list of Criteria
• • Compare Element 1's Criteria with Element 2's
• • • If greater or less return result
• • • Else continue // for clarity
• Return equal

The above both assume your Comparison function is Compare ( Element1, Element2 )