Thread: qsort problem

  1. #1
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    qsort problem

    I was wondering if you can use the qsort function with an array of data structures in c?

    I have the following code -
    qsort(arrayname,arraysize,sizeof(char),compare);

    int compare( const void *arg1, const void *arg2 )
    {
    int strcomp = strcmp(arg1, arg2);

    if (strcomp < 0)
    return -1;
    if (strcomp == 0)
    return 0;
    return 1;
    }

    I am trying to sort by a specific field in the structure (ie arrayname.firstname)

  2. #2
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Posts
    9,897
    Of course. An array of structures is no different from an array of int. As long as your compare function can handle the structures correctly then there should be no problem.

    -Prelude
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  3. #3
    Unregistered
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    How would I access the individual parts of the struct from the compare function I tired -

    int strcomp = strcmp(arg1.firstname, arg2.firstname);

    and stuff but no luck

  4. #4
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    Guest
    here is an example of qsort with array of structures, copy and run on your compiler...

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <string.h>
    
    typedef struct  {
         char name[20];
         char number[5];
    	  } COMPANY;
    
    int compare1 (const void *a, const void *b);
    int compare2 (const void *a, const void *b);
    
    void main ()
    {
    	COMPANY customer[5]={
                         {"GREENS PAINTS", "2812"},
    	     {"ALBANY STORES", "5612"},
    	     {"STATIC DOORS", "4587"},
    	     {"DIBBLES GARDENS", "9587"},
    	     {"STATION GRADE", "5487"}
    	};
    	 COMPANY *str_ptr1, *str_ptr2;
    	 int i = 0;
    
    	 if((str_ptr1 =(COMPANY *) malloc (sizeof(COMPANY) * 5)) ==NULL) {
                 printf("\nUnable to allocate memory");
                 exit (1);
                  }
    	 printf("Before sort\n");
                     str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 while(i < 5) {
    		printf("\n%20s %5s", customer[i].name, customer[i].number);
    		strcpy(str_ptr2->name, customer[i].name);
    		strcpy(str_ptr2->number, customer[i].number);
    		str_ptr2++; i++;
                      }
    
                      str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	  qsort(str_ptr2, 5, sizeof(COMPANY), compare1);
    	  printf("\n\nAfter first sort - by name\n");
    	  i = 0;
    	  str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	  while(i < 5) {
    		strcpy(customer[i].name, str_ptr2->name);
    		strcpy(customer[i].number, str_ptr2->number);
    	                 printf("\n%20s %5s", customer[i].name, customer[i].number);
    		str_ptr2++;
    		i++;
    	 }
    	 str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 qsort(str_ptr2, 5, sizeof(COMPANY), compare2);
    	 printf("\n\nAfter second sort - by number\n");
    	 i = 0;
    	 str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 while(i < 5) {
    		strcpy(customer[i].name, str_ptr2->name);
    		strcpy(customer[i].number, str_ptr2->number);
    		printf("\n%20s %5s", customer[i].name, customer[i].number);
    		str_ptr2++;
    		i++;
    	 }
    	 str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 free(str_ptr1);
    	 printf("\nHit Return to quit");
    	 getchar();
    } /*main*/
    
    int compare1 (const void *a, const void *b)
    {
    	return ( strcmp(((COMPANY*)a)->name, ((COMPANY*)b)->name));
    }
    
    int compare2 (const void *a, const void *b)
    {
    	return ( strcmp(((COMPANY*)a)->number, ((COMPANY*)b)->number));
    }

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    247
    here is an example of qsort with array of structures, copy and run on your compiler...
    SORRY GUYS FOR POSTING TWICE - ISP ERROR
    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <string.h>
    
    typedef struct  {
         char name[20];
         char number[5];
    	  } COMPANY;
    
    int compare1 (const void *a, const void *b);
    int compare2 (const void *a, const void *b);
    
    void main ()
    {
    	COMPANY customer[5]={
                         {"GREENS PAINTS", "2812"},
    	     {"ALBANY STORES", "5612"},
    	     {"STATIC DOORS", "4587"},
    	     {"DIBBLES GARDENS", "9587"},
    	     {"STATION GRADE", "5487"}
    	};
    	 COMPANY *str_ptr1, *str_ptr2;
    	 int i = 0;
    
    	 if((str_ptr1 =(COMPANY *) malloc (sizeof(COMPANY) * 5)) ==NULL) {
                 printf("\nUnable to allocate memory");
                 exit (1);
                  }
    	 printf("Before sort\n");
                     str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 while(i < 5) {
    		printf("\n%20s %5s", customer[i].name, customer[i].number);
    		strcpy(str_ptr2->name, customer[i].name);
    		strcpy(str_ptr2->number, customer[i].number);
    		str_ptr2++; i++;
                      }
    
                      str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	  qsort(str_ptr2, 5, sizeof(COMPANY), compare1);
    	  printf("\n\nAfter first sort - by name\n");
    	  i = 0;
    	  str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	  while(i < 5) {
    		strcpy(customer[i].name, str_ptr2->name);
    		strcpy(customer[i].number, str_ptr2->number);
    	                 printf("\n%20s %5s", customer[i].name, customer[i].number);
    		str_ptr2++;
    		i++;
    	 }
    	 str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 qsort(str_ptr2, 5, sizeof(COMPANY), compare2);
    	 printf("\n\nAfter second sort - by number\n");
    	 i = 0;
    	 str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 while(i < 5) {
    		strcpy(customer[i].name, str_ptr2->name);
    		strcpy(customer[i].number, str_ptr2->number);
    		printf("\n%20s %5s", customer[i].name, customer[i].number);
    		str_ptr2++;
    		i++;
    	 }
    	 str_ptr2 = str_ptr1;
    	 free(str_ptr1);
    	 printf("\nHit Return to quit");
    	 getchar();
    } /*main*/
    
    int compare1 (const void *a, const void *b)
    {
    	return ( strcmp(((COMPANY*)a)->name, ((COMPANY*)b)->name));
    }
    
    int compare2 (const void *a, const void *b)
    {
    	return ( strcmp(((COMPANY*)a)->number, ((COMPANY*)b)->number));
    }
    Last edited by bigtamscot; 03-07-2002 at 04:34 PM.

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