How can I use C# to sort values numerically?

Question

I have a string that contains numbers separated by periods. When I sort it appears like this since it is a string: (ascii char order)

3.9.5.2.1.1
3.9.5.2.1.10
3.         


        

Answer 1

Is it possible for you to pad your fields to the same length on the front with 0? If so, then you can just use straight lexicographic sorting on the strings. Otherwise, there is no such method built in to the framework that does this automatically. You'll have to implement your own IComparer if padding is not an option.