Sorting a Fixed Length Text File

[VisualGuy]

Does someone have an example of the best way to sort a Fixed Length Flat File using VB.NET? In the past, I've done this by writing it into a database table and then reading it back sorted, but that is not an option for what I want to do here.

I need to read it from one text file and then write it out, sorted by one of the fields, to another. Any help would be much appreciated...

 

[VisualGuy]

I found a shell command, but what about internal VB.NET? There must be a simple way to do this:

sort /+40 MyTextFile.TXT > MyNewTextFile.TXT

This sorts column 40 in asc order into MyNewTextFile.TXT.

 

[infinitelo]

There are several sorting routines availible, the one you will need depends on the number of records. If the file is small i would suggest bubble sort. For a larger file, something like a has sort would be better.

a sample of bubblesort from wikisource, you will have to modify the code to your own purpose and I suggest you only use it if you have 1,000 records or less.

Sub Bubblesort(Array() as Integer, Length as Integer)
   Dim I as Integer
   Dim J as Integer
   Dim Temp as Integer

   For I = Length -1 To 1 Step -1
      For J = 0 to I - 1
         IF Array(J)>Array(J+1) THEN  ' Compare neighboring elements
            Temp = Array(j) 
            Array(J) = Array(J+1)
            Array(J+1) = Temp
         End If
      Next J
   Next I

End Sub

if it is to be it's up to me