OrderedDictionary - to retrieve objects in same order

28 Jun 2006 3:20 PM

Suhaib

Hi,
I want to use OrderedDictionary to get my objects in same order as they
are inserted in. I also want to access the objects using a key. So my
question is whether this is the best option or there is some better
collection object than OD. The current MSDN documentation dosn't says
anything in favor or against OD for retrieving object in order.

Remember I don't want ot sort objects on keys or anything else.

Thanks in advance,
Suhaib

28 Jun 2006 4:18 PM

Kevin Spencer

Good question. The documentation for this class is very cryptic about how it
is "ordered." I can't tell for sure whether it is ordered internally (which
I doubt) or simply by the enumerator. The examples are bad in that when they
demonstrate getting the values in the OrderedDictionary by Keys, they use a
list that has been entered in non-alphabetical order, but when they
demonstrate getting the values using an enumerator, they enter the list
items in alphabetical order, thus muddying the waters as to why the items
came back *out* in alphabetical order. The text is not clear about this.

However, some experiments should answer the questions for you. I would
imagine that the items are added to the list in the order in which they were
actually added, and that when you get the keys by copying, the order is not
changed, which would satisfy your requirements. I would also guess (with
less confidence) that using an enumerator sorts the items. But again, it
shouldn't be hard to set up a test for this.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Chicken Salad Alchemist

Big thicks are made up of lots of little thins.

Show quote

"Suhaib" <Suh***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F130129F-BBF0-4B9C-BBCD-A0657D6D2FB9@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> I want to use OrderedDictionary to get my objects in same order as they
> are inserted in. I also want to access the objects using a key. So my
> question is whether this is the best option or there is some better
> collection object than OD. The current MSDN documentation dosn't says
> anything in favor or against OD for retrieving object in order.
>
> Remember I don't want ot sort objects on keys or anything else.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Suhaib

29 Jun 2006 3:34 PM

William Sullivan

Check out the Power Collections library at www.wintellect.com. Lots of
generic goodness there...

Show quote

"Suhaib" wrote:

> Hi,
> I want to use OrderedDictionary to get my objects in same order as they
> are inserted in. I also want to access the objects using a key. So my
> question is whether this is the best option or there is some better
> collection object than OD. The current MSDN documentation dosn't says
> anything in favor or against OD for retrieving object in order.
>
> Remember I don't want ot sort objects on keys or anything else.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Suhaib