Sorting an array of strings using values alphabetically and considering the cases of values in PHP

Question

I am sorting an array using values alphabetically, the array is as below:

Array ( 
[0] => test This 
[1] => This test 
[2] => again this test 
[3] => test again this 
[4] => this test again 
[5] => Dallas University Texas 
[6] => Texas Dallas University 
[7] => University Texas Dallas 
[8] => dallas University Texas 
[9] => Texas dallas University 
[10] => University Texas dallas 
[11] => Johnson Johnson 
[12] => Johnson Johnson
)

the expected output when i sort should be as below:

again this test  
dallas University Texas  
Dallas University Texas  
Johnson Johnson  
test again this  
test This   
this test again   
Texas dallas University   
Texas Dallas University   
This test   
University Texas dallas   
University Texas Dallas

my code is below:
the comparator

function compareValues($a,$b) {
  if ($a == $b) {
    return 0;
  }
  return ($a < $b) ? -1 : 1;
}
function transform($input){
  return usort($input,array($input,"compareValues"));
}
print_r($transform($input));

My current output cannot alphabetize the all values and is not case sensitive, it can only produce partially ordered array. It should be the comparator function that has some fault.

Agha Umair Ahmed · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-31 10:42:33Z

2

use php native function that is

sort(array); and here is a link for your help http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_arrays_sort.asp

or if you want sorting alphabetically then use

natcasesort(array) and here is the link http://php.net/manual/en/function.natcasesort.php

edited Dec 31, 2014 at 10:42

answered Dec 31, 2014 at 10:23

Agha Umair Ahmed

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3 Comments

leboMagma Over a year ago

can this sort alphabetically as well as case? @agha-umair-ahmed

Muhammad Bilal Over a year ago

No It does not take care of case as you want

leboMagma Over a year ago

after sorting with netcasesort() i get this again this test dallas University Texas Dallas University Texas Johnson Johnson Johnson Johnson test again this test This Texas dallas University Texas Dallas University This test this test again University Texas dallas University Texas Dallas. the correct output should be this again this test dallas University Texas Dallas University Texas Johnson Johnson test again this test This this test again Texas dallas University Texas Dallas University This test University Texas dallas University Texas Dallas @agha-umair-ahmed

Muhammad Bilal · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-31 11:08:14Z

0

You need to use natcasesort(array);

I am getting this result for applying natcasesort on your array:

natcasesort gives following output:

 Array
 (
     [2] => again this test
     [8] => dallas University Texas
     [5] => Dallas University Texas
     [11] => Johnson Johnson
     [12] => Johnson Johnson
     [3] => test again this
     [0] => test This
     [9] => Texas dallas University
     [6] => Texas Dallas University
     [1] => This test
     [4] => this test again
     [10] => University Texas dallas
     [7] => University Texas Dallas
 )

natsort() gives following output:

 Array
 (
     [5] => Dallas University Texas
     [11] => Johnson Johnson
     [12] => Johnson Johnson
     [6] => Texas Dallas University
     [9] => Texas dallas University
     [1] => This test
     [7] => University Texas Dallas
     [10] => University Texas dallas
     [2] => again this test
     [8] => dallas University Texas
     [0] => test This
     [3] => test again this
     [4] => this test again
 )

edited Dec 31, 2014 at 11:08

answered Dec 31, 2014 at 10:31

Muhammad Bilal

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9 Comments

leboMagma Over a year ago

this cannot sort all the values alphabetically @madforstrength

Muhammad Bilal Over a year ago

I have applied natcasesort on your array isnt it the result you want?

leboMagma Over a year ago

no . i want the index[4] to come before [9] because small case t should come before all T @madforstrength

leboMagma Over a year ago

the small case should come first

leboMagma Over a year ago

this is what i want Array ( [2] => again this test [8] => dallas University Texas [5] => Dallas University Texas [11] => Johnson Johnson [12] => Johnson Johnson [3] => test again this [0] => test This [4] => this test again [9] => Texas dallas University [6] => Texas Dallas University [1] => This test [10] => University Texas dallas [7] => University Texas Dallas )

|

Deenadhayalan Manoharan · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-31 11:14:28Z

0

Try this...

     <?php
        $cars = array("test This", "This test", "again this test","test again this"
,"this test again","Dallas University Texas","Texas Dallas University","University Texas Dallas","dallas University Texas","Texas dallas University","University Texas dallas",
"Johnson Johnson","Johnson Johnson");
        arsort($cars);
        natcasesort($cars);
        print_r($cars);
        ?>

Result:

     Array ( [2] => again this test [8] => dallas University Texas 
[5] => Dallas University Texas [12] => Johnson Johnson [11] => Johnson Johnson 
[3] => test again this [0] => test This [6] => Texas Dallas University 
[9] => Texas dallas University [1] => This test [4] => this test again 
[7] => University Texas Dallas [10] => University Texas dallas )

Reference Link: http://php.net/manual/en/array.sorting.php

edited Dec 31, 2014 at 11:14

answered Dec 31, 2014 at 10:35

Deenadhayalan Manoharan

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3 Comments

leboMagma Over a year ago

this cannot sort all the values alphabetically correctly in order, it does well with case @deena

leboMagma Over a year ago

this is what i want Array ( [2] => again this test [8] => dallas University Texas [5] => Dallas University Texas [11] => Johnson Johnson [12] => Johnson Johnson [3] => test again this [0] => test This [4] => this test again [9] => Texas dallas University [6] => Texas Dallas University [1] => This test [10] => University Texas dallas [7] => University Texas Dallas ) @deena

leboMagma Over a year ago

' Array ( [2] => again this test [8] => dallas University Texas [5] => Dallas University Texas [11] => Johnson Johnson [12] => Johnson Johnson [3] => test again this [0] => test This [4] => this test again [9] => Texas dallas University [6] => Texas Dallas University [1] => This test [10] => University Texas dallas [7] => University Texas Dallas '@deena

leboMagma · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-02 14:00:00Z

I finally used usort() to sort the array. i have the following class with methods that constitute algorithm:

class Alphabetizer extends AbstComposite{

    private $input = array();
    private $output = array();
function Alphabetizer( $input){
    $this->input = $input;
    $this->transform();
    $this->output();
}
    static function checkcase($string) {

        if( preg_match('/[A-Z]/', $string)){
            return 1;
        }elseif(preg_match('/[a-z]/', $string)){
            return 0;
        }else{
            return "stupid";
        }
    }
  static    function caseorder($a,$b){
       $a = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($a));
        $b = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($b));
        //checking the case ordering of words
        $length= (count($a) < count($b)) ?  count($a) :count($b);
        for($i=0;$i<=$length;$i++){
                if(strcasecmp($a[$i],$b[$i] == 0)){
                    if((Alphabetizer::checkcase($a[$i]) ==0) && Alphabetizer::checkcase($b[$i]) ==1){
                        return -1;
                    }elseif(Alphabetizer::checkcase($a[$i]==1) && Alphabetizer::checkcase($b[$i] ==0)){
                        return +1;
                    }else{
                        return 0;
                    }
                }return 0;



        }
    }
    //works well for alphabetical ordering of sentences
   static  function  letterorder($a,$b){
        $a = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($a));
        $b = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($b));
        $length= (count($a) < count($b)) ?  count($a) :count($b);
        for($i=0;$i<=$length;$i++){
            if(strtolower($a[$i]) < strtolower($b[$i])){
                return -1;
            }elseif(strtolower($a[$i]) > strtolower($b[$i])){
                return +1;
            }else{
                return 0;
            }

        }

    }
   static  function alphaorder($a,$b){
        $a = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($a));
        $b = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($b));
        $length= (count($a) < count($b)) ?  count($a) :count($b);
        for($i=0;$i<=$length;$i++){
            if(strtolower($a[$i]) > strtolower($b[$i])){
                return 1;
            }elseif(strtolower($a[$i]) < strtolower($b[$i])){
                return -1;
            }


        }
    }


   static  function comparator($a,$b){
        $a = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($a));
        $b = preg_replace('/\s+/','',trim($b));
        $return_value=0;
     if(($return_value=Alphabetizer::letterorder($a,$b))==0){
         if(($return_value=Alphabetizer::caseorder($a,$b) )== 0){
             if(($return_value=Alphabetizer::alphaorder($a,$b)) == 0){
               if(strlen($a) < strlen($b))  {
                 return 1;
               }else{
                   return 0;
               }
             }else{return$return_value;}
         }else{ return $return_value;}

     }else{
         return $return_value;
     }

    }


    public function transform(){
  usort($this->input,array(&$this,"Alphabetizer::comparator"));

    }
    public function output(){
        return array_unique($this->input);
    }

}

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