C# List<> Sort by x then y

Similar to https://stackoverflow.com/questions/188141/c-list-orderby-alphabetical-order, we want to sort by one element, then another. we want to achieve the functional equivalent of

SELECT * from Table ORDER BY x, y  

We have a class that contains a number of sorting functions, and we have no issues sorting by one element.
For example:

public class MyClass {
    public int x;
    public int y;
}  

List<MyClass> MyList;

public void SortList() {
    MyList.Sort( MySortingFunction );
}

And we have the following in the list:

Unsorted     Sorted(x)     Desired
---------    ---------    ---------
ID   x  y    ID   x  y    ID   x  y
[0]  0  1    [2]  0  2    [0]  0  1
[1]  1  1    [0]  0  1    [2]  0  2
[2]  0  2    [1]  1  1    [1]  1  1
[3]  1  2    [3]  1  2    [3]  1  2

Stable sort would be preferable, but not required. Solution that works for .Net 2.0 is welcome.

For versions of .Net where you can use LINQ OrderBy and ThenBy (or ThenByDescending if needed):

using System.Linq;
....
List<SomeClass>() a;
List<SomeClass> b = a.OrderBy(x => x.x).ThenBy(x => x.y).ToList();

---

Note: for .Net 2.0 (or if you can't use LINQ) see Hans Passant answer to this question.

Do keep in mind that you don't need a stable sort if you compare all members. The 2.0 solution, as requested, can look like this:

 public void SortList() {
     MyList.Sort(delegate(MyClass a, MyClass b)
     {
         int xdiff = a.x.CompareTo(b.x);
         if (xdiff != 0) return xdiff;
         else return a.y.CompareTo(b.y);
     });
 }

Do note that this 2.0 solution is still preferable over the popular 3.5 Linq solution, it performs an in-place sort and does not have the O(n) storage requirement of the Linq approach. Unless you prefer the original List object to be untouched of course.

The trick is to implement a stable sort. I've created a Widget class that can contain your test data:

public class Widget : IComparable
{
    int x;
    int y;
    public int X
    {
        get { return x; }
        set { x = value; }
    }

    public int Y
    {
        get { return y; }
        set { y = value; }
    }

    public Widget(int argx, int argy)
    {
        x = argx;
        y = argy;
    }

    public int CompareTo(object obj)
    {
        int result = 1;
        if (obj != null && obj is Widget)
        {
            Widget w = obj as Widget;
            result = this.X.CompareTo(w.X);
        }
        return result;
    }

    static public int Compare(Widget x, Widget y)
    {
        int result = 1;
        if (x != null && y != null)                
        {                
            result = x.CompareTo(y);
        }
        return result;
    }
}

I implemented IComparable, so it can be unstably sorted by List.Sort().

However, I also implemented the static method Compare, which can be passed as a delegate to a search method.

I borrowed this insertion sort method from C# 411:

 public static void InsertionSort<T>(IList<T> list, Comparison<T> comparison)
        {           
            int count = list.Count;
            for (int j = 1; j < count; j++)
            {
                T key = list[j];

                int i = j - 1;
                for (; i >= 0 && comparison(list[i], key) > 0; i--)
                {
                    list[i + 1] = list[i];
                }
                list[i + 1] = key;
            }
    }

You would put this in the sort helpers class that you mentioned in your question.

Now, to use it:

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List<Widget> widgets = new List<Widget>();

        widgets.Add(new Widget(0, 1));
        widgets.Add(new Widget(1, 1));
        widgets.Add(new Widget(0, 2));
        widgets.Add(new Widget(1, 2));

        InsertionSort<Widget>(widgets, Widget.Compare);

        foreach (Widget w in widgets)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(w.X + ":" + w.Y);
        }
    }

And it outputs:

0:1
0:2
1:1
1:2
Press any key to continue . . .

This could probably be cleaned up with some anonymous delegates, but I'll leave that up to you.

EDIT: And NoBugz demonstrates the power of anonymous methods...so, consider mine more oldschool :P

This may help you, How to Sort C# Generic List

I had an issue where OrderBy and ThenBy did not give me the desired result (or I just didn't know how to use them correctly).

I went with a list.Sort solution something like this.

    var data = (from o in database.Orders Where o.ClientId.Equals(clientId) select new {
    OrderId = o.id,
    OrderDate = o.orderDate,
    OrderBoolean = (SomeClass.SomeFunction(o.orderBoolean) ? 1 : 0)
    });

    data.Sort((o1, o2) => (o2.OrderBoolean.CompareTo(o1.OrderBoolean) != 0
    o2.OrderBoolean.CompareTo(o1.OrderBoolean) : o1.OrderDate.Value.CompareTo(o2.OrderDate.Value)));