Thread: ArrayList Sorting Problem

Okay, we are just learning how to read in from a file and I'm having trouble with what seems like the easiest part. I need to sort my ArrayList full of objects which are "Shapes" by name first, and then by the size of their area. The name one is giving me the most trouble now because I'm not really sure how to compare strings. The Shape's names are as follows shape1,shape2,shape3,shape4,.....shape252. They are read in as are on the txt file (in a random order) and now need to be sorted by name. I have methods which can return a string of said shape's name , but how do I go about comparing "shape15" vs "shape5" obviously shape 5 should go first in this situation.

I would like to avoid the many "OH DIS EASY JUST IMPLEMENT COMPAREABLE BLAH BLAH" can't do that for this assignment it basically has to be our own algorithm.

as far as area goes I think I'll be able to just compare the returned values of the shape's area and just sort them in that order. numbers always seem to make sense, so I just need a little help with the String.

... I absolutely cannot ... figure out how to sort this ArrayList.. please I'm literally begging.. this is the ONLY thing i can't do its been 4 hours now of searching online/reading and i still can't figure out how to sort an ArrayList.... I've come to the conclusion that when getting the names I'm going to be using the String.compareTo(string) method but HOW for the love of GOD do I sort it then.. so ArrayList.get(i).getName.CompareTo(ArrayList.get(z ).getName) this returns a number... okay now what..

editToMod: Sorry got worked up, I understand.

Please watch your language (your post has been edited)...and there are dozens if not hundreds of posts here - mentioning a sense of urgency (eg it is due at midnight) can be considered rude to all those others with similar problems, who have the same urgency as you.

To the question at hand...see the Collections class sort methods
Collections (Java Platform SE 6)
or write your own:
Sorting algorithm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia