VBA array sort function?

Question

I\'m looking for a decent sort implementation for arrays in VBA. A Quicksort would be preferred. Or any other sort algorithm other than bubble or merge would suffice.

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Answer 1

You didn't want an Excel-based solution but since I had the same problem today and wanted to test using other Office Applications functions I wrote the function below.

Limitations:

• 2-dimensional arrays;
• maximum of 3 columns as sort keys;
• depends on Excel;

Tested calling Excel 2010 from Visio 2010

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Option Base 1


Private Function sort_array_2D_excel(array_2D, array_sortkeys, Optional array_sortorders, Optional tag_header As String = "Guess", Optional tag_matchcase As String = "False")

'   Dependencies: Excel; Tools > References > Microsoft Excel [Version] Object Library

    Dim excel_application As Excel.Application
    Dim excel_workbook As Excel.Workbook
    Dim excel_worksheet As Excel.Worksheet

    Set excel_application = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

    excel_application.Visible = True
    excel_application.ScreenUpdating = False
    excel_application.WindowState = xlNormal

    Set excel_workbook = excel_application.Workbooks.Add
    excel_workbook.Activate

    Set excel_worksheet = excel_workbook.Worksheets.Add
    excel_worksheet.Activate
    excel_worksheet.Visible = xlSheetVisible

    Dim excel_range As Excel.Range
    Set excel_range = excel_worksheet.Range("A1").Resize(UBound(array_2D, 1) - LBound(array_2D, 1) + 1, UBound(array_2D, 2) - LBound(array_2D, 2) + 1)
    excel_range = array_2D


    For i_sortkey = LBound(array_sortkeys) To UBound(array_sortkeys)

        If IsNumeric(array_sortkeys(i_sortkey)) Then
            sortkey_range = Chr(array_sortkeys(i_sortkey) + 65 - 1) & "1"
            Set array_sortkeys(i_sortkey) = excel_worksheet.Range(sortkey_range)

        Else
            MsgBox "Error in sortkey parameter:" & vbLf & "array_sortkeys(" & i_sortkey & ") = " & array_sortkeys(i_sortkey) & vbLf & "Terminating..."
            End

        End If

    Next i_sortkey


    For i_sortorder = LBound(array_sortorders) To UBound(array_sortorders)
        Select Case LCase(array_sortorders(i_sortorder))
            Case "asc"
                array_sortorders(i_sortorder) = XlSortOrder.xlAscending
            Case "desc"
                array_sortorders(i_sortorder) = XlSortOrder.xlDescending
            Case Else
                array_sortorders(i_sortorder) = XlSortOrder.xlAscending
        End Select
    Next i_sortorder

    Select Case LCase(tag_header)
        Case "yes"
            tag_header = Excel.xlYes
        Case "no"
            tag_header = Excel.xlNo
        Case "guess"
            tag_header = Excel.xlGuess
        Case Else
            tag_header = Excel.xlGuess
    End Select

    Select Case LCase(tag_matchcase)
        Case "true"
            tag_matchcase = True
        Case "false"
            tag_matchcase = False
        Case Else
            tag_matchcase = False
    End Select


    Select Case (UBound(array_sortkeys) - LBound(array_sortkeys) + 1)
        Case 1
            Call excel_range.Sort(Key1:=array_sortkeys(1), Order1:=array_sortorders(1), Header:=tag_header, MatchCase:=tag_matchcase)
        Case 2
            Call excel_range.Sort(Key1:=array_sortkeys(1), Order1:=array_sortorders(1), Key2:=array_sortkeys(2), Order2:=array_sortorders(2), Header:=tag_header, MatchCase:=tag_matchcase)
        Case 3
            Call excel_range.Sort(Key1:=array_sortkeys(1), Order1:=array_sortorders(1), Key2:=array_sortkeys(2), Order2:=array_sortorders(2), Key3:=array_sortkeys(3), Order3:=array_sortorders(3), Header:=tag_header, MatchCase:=tag_matchcase)
        Case Else
            MsgBox "Error in sortkey parameter:" & vbLf & "Maximum number of sort columns is 3!" & vbLf & "Currently passed: " & (UBound(array_sortkeys) - LBound(array_sortkeys) + 1)
            End
    End Select


    For i_row = 1 To excel_range.Rows.Count

        For i_column = 1 To excel_range.Columns.Count

            array_2D(i_row, i_column) = excel_range(i_row, i_column)

        Next i_column

    Next i_row


    excel_workbook.Close False
    excel_application.Quit

    Set excel_worksheet = Nothing
    Set excel_workbook = Nothing
    Set excel_application = Nothing


    sort_array_2D_excel = array_2D


End Function

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This is an example on how to test the function:

Private Sub test_sort()

    array_unsorted = dim_sort_array()

    Call msgbox_array(array_unsorted)

    array_sorted = sort_array_2D_excel(array_unsorted, Array(2, 1, 3), Array("desc", "", "asdas"), "yes", "False")

    Call msgbox_array(array_sorted)

End Sub


Private Function dim_sort_array()

    Dim array_unsorted(1 To 5, 1 To 3) As String

    i_row = 0

    i_row = i_row + 1
    array_unsorted(i_row, 1) = "Column1": array_unsorted(i_row, 2) = "Column2": array_unsorted(i_row, 3) = "Column3"

    i_row = i_row + 1
    array_unsorted(i_row, 1) = "OR": array_unsorted(i_row, 2) = "A": array_unsorted(i_row, 3) = array_unsorted(i_row, 1) & "_" & array_unsorted(i_row, 2)

    i_row = i_row + 1
    array_unsorted(i_row, 1) = "XOR": array_unsorted(i_row, 2) = "A": array_unsorted(i_row, 3) = array_unsorted(i_row, 1) & "_" & array_unsorted(i_row, 2)

    i_row = i_row + 1
    array_unsorted(i_row, 1) = "NOT": array_unsorted(i_row, 2) = "B": array_unsorted(i_row, 3) = array_unsorted(i_row, 1) & "_" & array_unsorted(i_row, 2)

    i_row = i_row + 1
    array_unsorted(i_row, 1) = "AND": array_unsorted(i_row, 2) = "A": array_unsorted(i_row, 3) = array_unsorted(i_row, 1) & "_" & array_unsorted(i_row, 2)

    dim_sort_array = array_unsorted

End Function


Sub msgbox_array(array_2D, Optional string_info As String = "2D array content:")

    msgbox_string = string_info & vbLf

    For i_row = LBound(array_2D, 1) To UBound(array_2D, 1)

        msgbox_string = msgbox_string & vbLf & i_row & vbTab

        For i_column = LBound(array_2D, 2) To UBound(array_2D, 2)

            msgbox_string = msgbox_string & array_2D(i_row, i_column) & vbTab

        Next i_column

    Next i_row

    MsgBox msgbox_string

End Sub

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If anybody tests this using other versions of office please post here if there are any problems.