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Sorting with a comparator
I am trying to sort an ArrayList of objects with the comparator as I want to sort based on a certain value for each object. I understand I would need to override compareTo() in the objects class, is there any way I can get around also needing to override for all subclasses of the object?
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Re: Sorting with a comparator
What do you mean when you say "objects"? An ArrayList can only contain objects, not primitives.
How is the ArrayList defined? What type of object does it hold?
How can a Comparator compare two objects that are held in the ArrayList? What field in the objects can be compared?
If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.
Re: Sorting with a comparator
The objects hold fields, I want the arraylist to sort the objects based on a certain field.
Re: Sorting with a comparator
Yes, most objects hold fields. You need to explain a bit more.
Can you post an example of a class definition that will be used to create an object that will be held in the ArrayList?
And say what field in that class will be used to compare objects of that class.
--- Update ---
What did you do to solve this problem?
If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.
Re: Sorting with a comparator
Forgive the late response, just saw your post now, I did the following:
Collections.sort(myList, new Comparator<Object>() { public int compare(Object one, Object two) { return one.getField().compareTo(two.getField()); } });
--- Update ---
An anonymous inner class.
Re: Sorting with a comparator
Does that compile? Where is the method: getField() defined in the Object class?
If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.
Re: Sorting with a comparator
It works, it's not the actual source code it's just shows the template I used. getField() refers to any getter method. Object refers to the Object type the list stores.
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