Title: Write sorting/search methods that can be re-used.
Question: I find that alot of developers that use sorting and search algorithms, taking the Quick Sort algorithm for an example, will reimplement it for every use.
Answer:
Sorting algorithms rarely depend on actual knowledge what they are sorting, and when we require an algorithm and implement it, why restrict the algorithm to a specific use, as the algorithm itself will never change.
They are only dependent on an index of which they then need to compare and exchange the information that resides at those indexes.
The quick sort algorithm for the example would require only 3 main factors of which could be passed to a quick sort method.
Start and End indexes
Method for Comparing points
Method for Exchanging points
This going to apply for practially all sorting/searching algorithms.
All that is required is that we specify the types that will
define the Compare and Exchange methods.
type
TIndexCompare = function (const ixA, ixB: integer) : integer of Object;
TIndexExchange = procedure (const ixA, ixB: integer) of Object;
//-- Also these methods could be also reused for multiple sort algorythms.
//-- e.g
//-- procedure InsertionSortByIndex(ixLo, ixHi: Integer;
//-- IndexCompare: TIndexCompare;
//-- IndexExchange: TIndexExchange);
//-- etc....
procedure QuickSortByIndex(ixLo, ixHi: Integer;
IndexCompare: TIndexCompare;
IndexExchange: TIndexExchange);
implementation
procedure QuickSortByIndex(ixLo, ixHi: Integer;
IndexCompare: TIndexCompare;
IndexExchange: TIndexExchange);
procedure SortIndex(aLo, aHi: Integer);
var
I, J, P: Integer;
tmpInt: Integer;
begin
repeat
I := aLo;
J := aHi;
P := (aLo + aHi) shr 1;
repeat
while (I while (J aLo)and(IndexCompare(J,P) 0) do Dec(J);
if I IndexExchange(I,J);
if P = I then
P := J
else if P = J then
P := I;
Inc(i);
Dec(j);
end;
until I J;
if aLo aLo := I;
until I = aHi;
end;
begin
SortIndex(ixLo, ixHi);
end;
Now to use this.. lets say i want to sort a listbox for the example(rather than using the Listbox standard sorting)
type
TMyForm = class(TForm)
private
ListBox1: TListBox;
btnSort: TButton;
.....
public
function IndexCompare(const ixA, ixB: integer): integer;
procedure IndexExchange(const ixA, ixB: integer);
end;
..
implementation
function TMyForm.IndexCompare(const ixA, ixB: integer): integer;
//-- Source to compare items.
begin
Result := AnsiCompareText(ListBox1.Items[ixA], ListBox1.items[ixB]);
end;
procedure TMyForm.IndexExchange(const ixA, ixB: integer);
// -- Source to exchange items.
var tmpStr: string;
begin
tmpStr := ListBox1.Items[ixA];
ListBox1.Items[ixA] := ListBox1.Items[ixB];
ListBox1.Items[ixB] := tmpStr;
end;
procedure TMyForm.btnSortClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
with ListBox1.items do begin
BeginUpdate;
try
if UseQuickSort then
QuickSortByIndex(0, count-1, IndexCompare, IndexExchange)
else
InsertionSortByIndex(0, count-1, IndexCompare, IndexExchange);
finally
EndUpdate;
end;
end;
end;
//----
Well hopefully that might of been some use
Later All