Dictionary Sorting

DOCUMENT:Q246067 13-MAY-2002 [iis] TITLE :Sorting a Scripting Dictionary Populated with String Data PRODUCT :Internet Information Server PROD/VER:winnt:5.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbOSWin2000 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Internet Information Services version 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= A Scripting Dictionary object is the equivalent of a PERL associative array, where information is stored in an array consisting of unique keys and item data. Because this information is stored unsorted, enumerating through the array returns information in the order it was stored. The purpose of this article is to define the SortDictionary() function that sorts the contents of a dictionary object populated with string data by key or item. MORE INFORMATION ================ The following code example defines two constants, dictKey and dictItem, which are used by the SortDictionary() function. The SortDictionary() function takes two parameters, an object previously created as a scripting dictionary and one of the constants to determine whether to sort by the dictionary's keys or items. Const dictKey = 1 Const dictItem = 2 Function SortDictionary(objDict,intSort) ' declare our variables Dim strDict() Dim objKey Dim strKey,strItem Dim X,Y,Z ' get the dictionary count Z = objDict.Count ' we need more than one item to warrant sorting If Z > 1 Then ' create an array to store dictionary information ReDim strDict(Z,2) X = 0 ' populate the string array For Each objKey In objDict strDict(X,dictKey) = CStr(objKey) strDict(X,dictItem) = CStr(objDict(objKey)) X = X + 1 Next ' perform a a shell sort of the string array For X = 0 to (Z - 2) For Y = X to (Z - 1) If StrComp(strDict(X,intSort),strDict(Y,intSort),vbTextCompare) > 0 Then strKey = strDict(X,dictKey) strItem = strDict(X,dictItem) strDict(X,dictKey) = strDict(Y,dictKey) strDict(X,dictItem) = strDict(Y,dictItem) strDict(Y,dictKey) = strKey strDict(Y,dictItem) = strItem End If Next Next ' erase the contents of the dictionary object objDict.RemoveAll ' repopulate the dictionary with the sorted information For X = 0 to (Z - 1) objDict.Add strDict(X,dictKey), strDict(X,dictItem) Next End If End Function A Working Example: The following example makes use of the above function. Note: All comments have been removed from the actual sorting function in this example. Copy the following ASP code and save it to a folder as Sortdemo.asp with at least Scripts access: <%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT"%> <% Option Explicit %> Dictionary Sorting <% Dim d, i Const dictKey = 1 Const dictItem = 2 Set d = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary") d.Add "3", "Delta" d.Add "1", "Foxtrot" d.Add "4", "Bravo" d.Add "2", "Echo" d.Add "6", "Alpha" d.Add "5", "Charlie" Response.Write "

Before Sorting:
" For Each i In d Response.Write i & "=" & d(i) & "
" Next Response.Write "

By Key:
" SortDictionary d,dictKey For Each i In d Response.Write i & "=" & d(i) & "
" Next Response.Write "

By Item:
" SortDictionary d,dictItem For Each i In d Response.Write d(i) & "=" & i & "
" Next %> <% Function SortDictionary(objDict,intSort) Dim strDict() Dim objKey Dim strKey,strItem Dim X,Y,Z Z = objDict.Count If Z > 1 Then ReDim strDict(Z,2) X = 0 For Each objKey In objDict strDict(X,dictKey) = CStr(objKey) strDict(X,dictItem) = CStr(objDict(objKey)) X = X + 1 Next For X = 0 to (Z - 2) For Y = X to (Z - 1) If StrComp(strDict(X,intSort),strDict(Y,intSort),vbTextCompare) > 0 Then strKey = strDict(X,dictKey) strItem = strDict(X,dictItem) strDict(X,dictKey) = strDict(Y,dictKey) strDict(X,dictItem) = strDict(Y,dictItem) strDict(Y,dictKey) = strKey strDict(Y,dictItem) = strItem End If Next Next objDict.RemoveAll For X = 0 to (Z - 1) objDict.Add strDict(X,dictKey), strDict(X,dictItem) Next End If End Function %> When browsed, the following output should be displayed: Before Sorting: 3=Delta 1=Foxtrot 4=Bravo 2=Echo 6=Alpha 5=Charlie By Key: 1=Foxtrot 2=Echo 3=Delta 4=Bravo 5=Charlie 6=Alpha By Item: Alpha=6 Bravo=4 Charlie=5 Delta=3 Echo=2 Foxtrot=1 Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/partner/referral/ For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS REFERENCES ========== For more information on Microsoft's scripting technologies, see the Microsoft Developer Network Web site at the following URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/ Additional query words: iis ====================================================================== Keywords : kbOSWin2000 Technology : kbiisSearch kbiis500 Version : winnt:5.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.