HOWTO: How to Sort a CStringArray in MFC (120961)

SUMMARY

You can use the sample code in this article to sort a CStringArray object. The main() function constructs a CStringArray object, adds elements to it, prints out the elements, calls the sort() member function to sort it, and then prints the sorted elements. The sort() function uses the Bubble Sort algorithm to sort the array and calls the CompareAndSwap() function to compare each string and swap them if necessary.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code

/*
 * Compile options needed: /MT
 */ 

#include <afx.h>
#include <iostream.h>
#include <afxcoll.h>

class CSortStringArray : public CStringArray {
public:
   void Sort();
private:
   BOOL CompareAndSwap(int pos);
};
void CSortStringArray::Sort()
{
   BOOL bNotDone = TRUE;

   while (bNotDone)
   {
      bNotDone = FALSE;
      for(int pos = 0;pos < GetUpperBound();pos++)
         bNotDone |= CompareAndSwap(pos);
   }
}
BOOL CSortStringArray::CompareAndSwap(int pos)
{
   CString temp;
   int posFirst = pos;
   int posNext = pos + 1;

   if (GetAt(posFirst).CompareNoCase(GetAt(posNext)) > 0)
   {
      temp = GetAt(posFirst);
      SetAt(posFirst, GetAt(posNext));
      SetAt(posNext, temp);
      return TRUE;

   }
   return FALSE;
}
void main()
{
   CSortStringArray sortArray;

   sortArray.Add(CString("Zebra"));
   sortArray.Add(CString("Bat"));
   sortArray.Add(CString("Apple"));
   sortArray.Add(CString("Mango"));

   for (int i = 0; i <= sortArray.GetUpperBound(); i++)
      cout << sortArray[i] << endl;

   sortArray.Sort();
   cout << endl;

   for (int j = 0; j <= sortArray.GetUpperBound(); j++)
      cout << sortArray[j] << endl;
}