Best way to sort NSArray NSDictionary objects?

Question

I am trying to sort an array of dictionaries.

My dictionaries have a couple of meanings of interest, price, popularity, etc.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Use an NSSortDescriptor like this.

 NSSortDescriptor * descriptor = [[NSSortDescriptor alloc] initWithKey:@"interest" ascending:YES]; stories = [stories sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:@[descriptor]]; recent = [stories copy]; 

stories is the array you want to sort. recent is another mutable array that has sorted dictionary values. Change @"interest" to the key value to be sorted.

All the best

Answer 2

 [array sortUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:[NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"YOUR-KEY" ascending:YES], nil]]; 

I really do not want to break it into several lines. This is easy enough for me.

Answer 3

You can simply go from the parent to the desired child property. E.g.

 NSSortDescriptor *descriptor = [[NSSortDescriptor alloc] initWithKey:@"parent.child.child" ascending:YES]; 

Answer 4

Update, sortUsingDescriptors is now sorted. ArrayUsingDescriptors

So its kind of:

 items = [items sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:descriptor,nil]]; 

Answer 5

Write a sort function that compares the corresponding fields in two dictionaries. If you have this version, you can, for example, use NSArray#sortedArrayUsingFunction:context: to sort your array.

See NSArray Class Help

Answer 6

 array = [array sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:[NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"YOUR-KEY" ascending:YES], nil]]; 

Remember assignment to an array