From: Phil Roberts <philrob@...>
Date: 2004-05-15T00:23:55+09:00
Subject: A simpler way to do this?

I have an FXList window showing a list of users from a 
database, and as is common for such lists I've 
implemented a system for sorting by column, with 
reversible sort directions and all.

The only issue is that It's taken about 6 methods to 
get that behaviour. One to issue the sort command , one 
to retrieve the current sort order (in order to align 
the sort arrows correctly), and four methods to sort 
the data on a given column name. A sample of which is 
shown below:

    def sortCustDataById(sortOrder = SORT_ASC)
        @currentSortValue = SORT_BY_ID
        if sortOrder == SORT_ASC
            @listTable.clearItems()
            @resultSet.sort_by { |row| row[:id] }.each do |member|
                @listTable.appendItem("#{member[:id]}\t#{member[:forename]}\t#{member[:surname]}\t#{member[:account_created]}", nil, nil, member[:id])
            end
        elsif sortOrder == SORT_DESC
            @listTable.clearItems()
            @resultSet.sort_by { |row| row[:id] }.reverse_each do |member|
                @listTable.appendItem("#{member[:id]}\t#{member[:forename]}\t#{member[:surname]}\t#{member[:account_created]}", nil, nil, member[:id])
            end
        end
    end

Ruby supposedly follows the "path of least surprise" 
principle, but one thing I keep finding that disproves
this is the way I keep finding simple ways to do tasks
that would otherwise be complicated (such as the sorting)
method shown above. So what I'd like to know is: Is there 
a simpler way to do what I've done above?

-- 
Phil Roberts | Without me its just aweso. | http://www.flatnet.net/

"Whatever you do don't read the bible for a moral code. It advocates
 predjudice, cruelty, superstition, and murder. Read it because we
 need more atheists, and nothing will get you there faster than
 reading the damn bible."