How to make double sort integer arrays using C++? - c++

Question

I have 3-column integer arrays, whose last 2 elements are for sorting. For example
10 0 1
11 0 2
12 1 2
13 0 1
I want them to become:
10 0 1
13 0 1
11 0 2
12 1 2
The arrays are first sorted according to the 2nd column, and then again according to 3rd column.
I have over 3000 rows, so I need something also fast. How can you do this in c++?
Note: The array will be allocated dynamically using the following templates:
template <typename T>
T **AllocateDynamic2DArray(int nRows, int nCols){
T **dynamicArray;
dynamicArray = new T*[nRows];
for( int i = 0 ; i < nRows ; i++ ){
dynamicArray[i] = new T[nCols];
for ( int j=0; j<nCols;j++){
dynamicArray[i][j]= 0;
}
}
return dynamicArray;
}
in main,
int ** lineFilter = AllocateDynamic2DArray(2*numberOfLines,3);

Answer 1

you can use std::sort(); however, this is complicated by your array being 2D.
In general, std::sort() can't eat 2D arrays; you have to create a class to cast around the compiler warnings and complaints:
#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
int data[4][3] = {
{10,0,1},
{11,0,2},
{12,1,2},
{13,0,1}
};
struct row_t { // our type alias for sorting; we know this is compatible with the rows in data
int data[3];
bool operator<(const row_t& rhs) const {
return (data[1]<rhs.data[1]) || ((data[1]==rhs.data[1]) && (data[2]<rhs.data[2]));
}
};
int main() {
std::sort((row_t*)data,(row_t*)(data+4));
for(int i=0; i<4; i++)
std::cout << i << '=' << data[i][0] << ',' << data[i][1] << ',' << data[i][2] << ';' << std::endl;
return 0;
}
It becomes much easier if you use a std::vector to hold your items that really are of type row_t or such. Vectors are dynamically sized and sortable.

Answer 2

I think this should work:
template<typename T>
struct compareRows {
bool operator() (T * const & a, T * const & b) {
if (a[1] == b[1])
return a[2] < b[2];
else
return a[1] < b[1];
}
};
std::sort(dynamicArray, dynamicArray+nrows, compareRows<int>());
Use a functor to implement the comparison between the rows. The sort will take pointers to the beginning of each row and swap them according to the contents of the rows. The rows will stay in the same places in memory.

Answer 3

OK, the OP has a three-column integer arrays, which is not straightforward to sort, because you can't assign arrays.
One option is to have arrays of structs, where the struct contains one element for each column, write a custom compare routine and use std::sort.
Another option is to pretend we have such an array of structs and employ the evilness of reinterpret_cast, like below:
#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
struct elt_t
{
int e0;
int e1;
int e2;
};
int
compare (const elt_t &a, const elt_t &b)
{
if (a.e1 == b.e1)
return a.e2 < b.e2;
else
return a.e1 < b.e1;
}
int a [10][3] =
{
{ 10, 0, 1 },
{ 11, 0, 2 },
{ 12, 1, 2 },
{ 13, 0, 1 }
};
int
main ()
{
std::sort (reinterpret_cast<elt_t *>(&a[0]),
reinterpret_cast<elt_t *>(&a[4]), compare);
int i, j;
for (i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
std::cout << a [i][0] << ", " << a [i][1] << ", " << a [i][2] << std::endl;
return 0;
}
Of course, whether or not this is standards compliant is highly debatable :)
EDIT:
With the added requirement for the matrix to by dynamically allocated, you can use an array of std::vector, or a vector of std::vector:
#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
int
compare (const std::vector<int> &a, const std::vector<int> &b)
{
if (a[1] == b[1])
return a[2] < b[2];
else
return a[1] < b[1];
}
std::vector<int> *
make_vec (unsigned int r, unsigned int c)
{
std::vector<int> *v = new std::vector<int> [r];
/* Don't care for column count for the purposes of the example. */
v [0].push_back (10); v [0].push_back (0); v [0].push_back (1);
v [1].push_back (11); v [1].push_back (0); v [1].push_back (2);
v [2].push_back (12); v [2].push_back (1); v [2].push_back (2);
v [3].push_back (13); v [3].push_back (0); v [3].push_back (1);
return v;
}
int
main ()
{
std::vector<int> *v = make_vec (4, 3);
std::sort (&v[0], &v[4], compare);
int i, j;
for (i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
std::cout << v[i][0] << ", " << v [i][1] << ", " << v [i][2] << std::endl;
delete [] v;
return 0;
}

Answer 4

use this for the second column and then for the third. Now it works for single dim arrays
int *toplace(int *start, int *end)
{
int *i = start+1, *j= end-1;
while(i<=j)
{
while(*i<=*start && i<=j) {i++;}
while(*j>=*start && i<=j) {j--;}
if (i<j) std::swap(*i++,*j--);
}
std::swap(*start,*(i-1));
return i-1;
}
void quicksort(int *start, int *end)
{
if (start >= end) return;
int *temp = start;
temp = toplace(start,end);
quicksort(start,temp);
quicksort(temp+1,end);
}

Answer 5

You can do this using the bubble sort algorithm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_sort)
Basically iterate through all records, comparing the current record, with the next. If the current record's 2nd column is higher then swap these records. If the current record's 2nd column is equal but the 3rd column is higher, then swap also.
Continue iterating until no more swaps are made.
To use your example:
10 0 1
11 0 2
12 1 2 (swap with next)
13 0 1
10 0 1
11 0 2(swap with next)
13 0 1
12 1 2
10 0 1
13 0 1
11 0 2
12 1 2
And done!