"Alex C. Barberi" wrote:

> I created a class like so in VB.NET:
> Public Class Category
>     Public Name As String
>     Public SubCategory As String
> End Class
>
> Then, I created an array:
> Public Categories As Category()
>
> I created a sort method too:
> Public Class CategoryMethods
>     Public Shared Sub Sort()
>         Dim catCompare As ItemComparer = New ItemComparer()
>         Array.Sort(Categories, catCompare)
>     End Sub
> End Class
>
> Now what I want to know is this: how do I make it so that instead of just
> calling CategoryMethods.Sort(), how can I call Categories.Sort() and still be
> using my Sort method?
>
> --
> Alex C. Barberi
> Chief Executive Officer
> VisionForce
> http://www.visionforceweb.com
>

"Cowboy (Gregory A. Beamer) - MVP" wrote:

> Inherit from a class that has a sort method. A SortedList comes to mind,
> although it will always be sorted. :-)
>
> --
> Gregory A. Beamer
> MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA
>
> ***************************
> Think Outside the Box!
> ***************************
>
>
> "Alex C. Barberi" wrote:
>
> > I created a class like so in VB.NET:
> > Public Class Category
> >     Public Name As String
> >     Public SubCategory As String
> > End Class
> >
> > Then, I created an array:
> > Public Categories As Category()
> >
> > I created a sort method too:
> > Public Class CategoryMethods
> >     Public Shared Sub Sort()
> >         Dim catCompare As ItemComparer = New ItemComparer()
> >         Array.Sort(Categories, catCompare)
> >     End Sub
> > End Class
> >
> > Now what I want to know is this: how do I make it so that instead of just
> > calling CategoryMethods.Sort(), how can I call Categories.Sort() and still be
> > using my Sort method?
> >
> > --
> > Alex C. Barberi
> > Chief Executive Officer
> > VisionForce
> > http://www.visionforceweb.com
> >

> I created a class like so in VB.NET:
> Public Class Category
>     Public Name As String
>     Public SubCategory As String
> End Class
>
> Then, I created an array:
> Public Categories As Category()
>
> I created a sort method too:
> Public Class CategoryMethods
>     Public Shared Sub Sort()
>         Dim catCompare As ItemComparer = New ItemComparer()
>         Array.Sort(Categories, catCompare)
>     End Sub
> End Class
>
> Now what I want to know is this: how do I make it so that instead of just
> calling CategoryMethods.Sort(), how can I call Categories.Sort() and still be
> using my Sort method?
>

"Matt Sollars" wrote:

> Hi Alex,
>
> You can do away with the CategoryMethods and ItemComparer classes. Just
> have your Category class implement the IComparable interface. You'll
> provide the details in IComparable.CompareTo. A bit like this:
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Public Class Category
>     Implements IComparable
>
>     Public Name As String
>     Public SubCategory As String
>
>     Public Function CompareTo(ByVal obj As Object) As Integer _
>         Implements IComparable.CompareTo
>
>         ' Test for type compatibility.
>         If TypeOf obj Is Category Then
>             ' Compare however is needed; this example just compares the Names.
>             Return Me.Name.CompareTo(CType(obj, Category).Name)
>         Else
>             Throw New ArgumentException("Argument is not a Category", "obj")
>         End If
>
> End Class
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Now, you have a few options.
>
> 1) You can use an ArrayList instead of an array, which makes it easier
> to add and remove items to/from, and just call it's Sort method (it will
> detect that the items are IComparable and sort as you specified).
>
> 2) You can still use an array and just call Array.Sort(Categories)
> (again, it will detect IComparable).
>
> 3) If you're coding for .NET 2.0, you should use the generic List<T>
> class to hold your items. For example:
>
> Public Categories As List(Of Category)
> ....
> Categories.Sort()
>
>
> I hope this helps.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Matt
>
>
> Alex C. Barberi wrote:
> > I created a class like so in VB.NET:
> > Public Class Category
> >     Public Name As String
> >     Public SubCategory As String
> > End Class
> >
> > Then, I created an array:
> > Public Categories As Category()
> >
> > I created a sort method too:
> > Public Class CategoryMethods
> >     Public Shared Sub Sort()
> >         Dim catCompare As ItemComparer = New ItemComparer()
> >         Array.Sort(Categories, catCompare)
> >     End Sub
> > End Class
> >
> > Now what I want to know is this: how do I make it so that instead of just
> > calling CategoryMethods.Sort(), how can I call Categories.Sort() and still be
> > using my Sort method?
> >
>

> Isn't there a way that I can put any method I want to like:
> Categories.MyMethod1()
> Categories.MyMethod2()
>
> Is this possible?
>

"Matt Sollars" wrote:

> Alex,
>
> Absolutely! You can create your own list class to hold Category items.
> It should inherit from ArrayList, CollectionBase or another similar
> type. That way, you can add whatever methods you'd like to it.
>
> Note, if you descent from CollectionBase, you'll need to write a Sort
> method (just call InnerList.Sort() in your implementation) in addition
> to your others.
>
> Have fun.
>
> Matt
>
> Alex C. Barberi wrote:
> > Isn't there a way that I can put any method I want to like:
> > Categories.MyMethod1()
> > Categories.MyMethod2()
> >
> > Is this possible?
> >
>

> I'm not sure I understand; please explain.
>
> I have this:
> Public Categories As clsCategory()
>
> And I want to be able to do this:
> Categories.Emulate()
> Categories.CreateRoster()
>
> How do I do that?
>

"Matt Sollars" wrote:

> Alex,
>
> You're still creating a simple array of clsCategory objects. What you
> want to do is create a replacement for the array; your own list. Declare
> another class. It would be something like this:
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Imports System.Collections
>
> Public Class CategoryCollection
>     Inherits CollectionBase
>
>     Public Sub New()
>         MyBase.New()
>     End Sub
>
>     Default Public ReadOnly Property Item(ByVal index As Integer) As Category
>         Get
>             Return CType(List(index), Category)
>         End Get
>     End Property
>
>     Public Function Add(ByVal item As Category) As Integer
>         Return List.Add(item)
>     End Function
>
>     Public Sub Insert(ByVal index As Integer, ByVal item As Category)
>         List.Insert(index, item)
>     End Sub
>
>     Public Sub Remove(ByVal item As Category)
>         List.Remove(item)
>     End Sub
>
>     Public Function IndexOf(ByVal item As Category) As Integer
>         Return List.IndexOf(item)
>     End Function
>
>     Public Sub Sort()
>         InnerList.Sort()
>     End Sub
>
>     Public Sub Emulate()
>         ' Implement your emulate method.
>     End Sub
>
>     Public Sub CreateRoster()
>         ' Implement your create roster method.
>     End Sub
>
> End Class
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Then set it all up in your program like this:
>
> Dim Category As Category
> Dim Categories As New CategoryCollection()
>
> ' Add some categories to the collection.
> MyCategory = New Category()
> MyCategory.Name = "Dairy"
> MyCategory.SubCategory = "Milk"
> Categories.Add(MyCategory)
>
> MyCategory = New Category()
> MyCategory.Name = "Canned"
> MyCategory.SubCategory = "Spam"
> Categories.Add(MyCategory)
>
> ' Call some work methods on the collection.
> Categories.Sort()
> Categories.Emulate()
>
>
> I hope that clears things up.
>
> Matt
>
>
> Alex C. Barberi wrote:
> > I'm not sure I understand; please explain.
> >
> > I have this:
> > Public Categories As clsCategory()
> >
> > And I want to be able to do this:
> > Categories.Emulate()
> > Categories.CreateRoster()
> >
> > How do I do that?
> >
>

> Wow! Thanks, that's great.
>