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() {","})
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.