Sort NSMutableArray Of multiple Objects without keys

Question

I have a NSMutableArray of objects, below is the struct:

//object at index i
locations {
   NSString* address;
   NSString* state;
   NSNumber* distance;
}

I have 10000 object like the above structure in the NSMutableArray. How do order this array so that the locations are in order by the NSNumber distance?

I tried this:

lowToHigh = [NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"distance" ascending:YES];
[locationArray sortUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObject:lowToHigh]];

is using the sortDescriptorWithKey:@"distance" wrong? since distance isn't actually a key, it NSNumber* distance.

edit in my header @property (strong, nonatomic)NSNumber* _distance; and then @synthesize _distance = distance; in my methods file but this is in locationObjects.* object class. Then I import this in my current class I am doing this sorting. Is that an issue? How I import is locationObjects* locObj = [[locationObjects alloc] init];

If you have a property -(NSString*)distance in addition to ivar distance, your trick should just work. — Sergey Kalinichenko
– Sergey Kalinichenko, Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 15:12
@HotLicks it makes the array only have one object 10000 times. and dasblinkenlight its a NSNumber — John Riselvato
– John Riselvato, Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 15:14
Did you alloc/init the actual lowToHigh NSSortDescriptor? (The 'Specifying Sorts Using NSSortDescriptor' section on this doc developer.apple.com/library/ios/#DOCUMENTATION/Cocoa/Conceptual/…) — tarheel
– tarheel, Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 15:17

Firo · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-27 15:14:48Z

1

This is what I use:

NSSortDescriptor *lowToHigh = [[NSSortDescriptor alloc] initWithKey:@"distance"
                                              ascending:YES];
NSArray *mySortDescriptors = [NSArray arrayWithObject:lowToHigh];
NSArray *sortedArray = [locationArray sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:mySortDescriptors];

answered Jun 27, 2012 at 15:14

Firo

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12 Comments

John Riselvato Over a year ago

The only difference between what I tried and what you posted is the sortedArrayUsingDescriptors vs sortUsingDescriptors. Which unfortunately gives me the same exact sorting as I did before posting this question.

Firo Over a year ago

Sorry I was primarily referring to alloc/initing them, but I now see the comment asking about it. Besides that they are the exact same.

John Riselvato Over a year ago

I think my issue is I don't have a key called distance only an NSNumber called distance.

Hot Licks Over a year ago

@JohnRiselvato -- You mean you never defined the @property called distance, I suspect.

Firo Over a year ago

Look at this, I think he is trying to do almost the exact same thing except with an NSDate: stackoverflow.com/questions/805547/…

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