VBA array sort function?
Take a look here:
Edit: The referenced source (allexperts.com) has since closed, but here are the relevant author comments:
There are many algorithms available on the web for sorting. The most versatile and usually the quickest is the Quicksort algorithm. Below is a function for it.
Call it simply by passing an array of values (string or numeric; it doesn't matter) with the Lower Array Boundary (usually
0
) and the Upper Array Boundary (i.e.UBound(myArray)
.)Example:
Call QuickSort(myArray, 0, UBound(myArray))
When it's done,
myArray
will be sorted and you can do what you want with it.
(Source: archive.org)
Public Sub QuickSort(vArray As Variant, inLow As Long, inHi As Long)
Dim pivot As Variant
Dim tmpSwap As Variant
Dim tmpLow As Long
Dim tmpHi As Long
tmpLow = inLow
tmpHi = inHi
pivot = vArray((inLow + inHi) \ 2)
While (tmpLow <= tmpHi)
While (vArray(tmpLow) < pivot And tmpLow < inHi)
tmpLow = tmpLow + 1
Wend
While (pivot < vArray(tmpHi) And tmpHi > inLow)
tmpHi = tmpHi - 1
Wend
If (tmpLow <= tmpHi) Then
tmpSwap = vArray(tmpLow)
vArray(tmpLow) = vArray(tmpHi)
vArray(tmpHi) = tmpSwap
tmpLow = tmpLow + 1
tmpHi = tmpHi - 1
End If
Wend
If (inLow < tmpHi) Then QuickSort vArray, inLow, tmpHi
If (tmpLow < inHi) Then QuickSort vArray, tmpLow, inHi
End Sub
Note that this only works with single-dimensional (aka "normal"?) arrays. (There's a working multi-dimensional array QuickSort here.)
I converted the 'fast quick sort' algorithm to VBA, if anyone else wants it.
I have it optimized to run on an array of Int/Longs but it should be simple to convert it to one that works on arbitrary comparable elements.
Private Sub QuickSort(ByRef a() As Long, ByVal l As Long, ByVal r As Long)
Dim M As Long, i As Long, j As Long, v As Long
M = 4
If ((r - l) > M) Then
i = (r + l) / 2
If (a(l) > a(i)) Then swap a, l, i '// Tri-Median Methode!'
If (a(l) > a(r)) Then swap a, l, r
If (a(i) > a(r)) Then swap a, i, r
j = r - 1
swap a, i, j
i = l
v = a(j)
Do
Do: i = i + 1: Loop While (a(i) < v)
Do: j = j - 1: Loop While (a(j) > v)
If (j < i) Then Exit Do
swap a, i, j
Loop
swap a, i, r - 1
QuickSort a, l, j
QuickSort a, i + 1, r
End If
End Sub
Private Sub swap(ByRef a() As Long, ByVal i As Long, ByVal j As Long)
Dim T As Long
T = a(i)
a(i) = a(j)
a(j) = T
End Sub
Private Sub InsertionSort(ByRef a(), ByVal lo0 As Long, ByVal hi0 As Long)
Dim i As Long, j As Long, v As Long
For i = lo0 + 1 To hi0
v = a(i)
j = i
Do While j > lo0
If Not a(j - 1) > v Then Exit Do
a(j) = a(j - 1)
j = j - 1
Loop
a(j) = v
Next i
End Sub
Public Sub sort(ByRef a() As Long)
QuickSort a, LBound(a), UBound(a)
InsertionSort a, LBound(a), UBound(a)
End Sub
Explanation in German but the code is a well-tested in-place implementation:
Private Sub QuickSort(ByRef Field() As String, ByVal LB As Long, ByVal UB As Long)
Dim P1 As Long, P2 As Long, Ref As String, TEMP As String
P1 = LB
P2 = UB
Ref = Field((P1 + P2) / 2)
Do
Do While (Field(P1) < Ref)
P1 = P1 + 1
Loop
Do While (Field(P2) > Ref)
P2 = P2 - 1
Loop
If P1 <= P2 Then
TEMP = Field(P1)
Field(P1) = Field(P2)
Field(P2) = TEMP
P1 = P1 + 1
P2 = P2 - 1
End If
Loop Until (P1 > P2)
If LB < P2 Then Call QuickSort(Field, LB, P2)
If P1 < UB Then Call QuickSort(Field, P1, UB)
End Sub
Invoked like this:
Call QuickSort(MyArray, LBound(MyArray), UBound(MyArray))
Dim arr As Object
Dim InputArray
'Creating a array list
Set arr = CreateObject("System.Collections.ArrayList")
'String
InputArray = Array("d", "c", "b", "a", "f", "e", "g")
'number
'InputArray = Array(6, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1)
' adding the elements in the array to array_list
For Each element In InputArray
arr.Add element
Next
'sorting happens
arr.Sort
'Converting ArrayList to an array
'so now a sorted array of elements is stored in the array sorted_array.
sorted_array = arr.toarray