From: Jenny Purcell <dontspamme@...>
Date: 2007-07-22T12:59:58+09:00
Subject: Re: Method to return elements of an array in numeric 'rank'?

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:44:40 +0900, James Britt
<james.britt@gmail.com> wrote:

>Jenny Purcell wrote:
>
>> I would expect there would be an existing method that works off of the
>> array class that would do this, and I'd like to check on that before
>> (painfully) writing my own nested loops that would do the same thing.
>
>See http://www.ruby-doc.org/core/classes/Enumerable.html#M003151
>
>Look at sort_by
>
>
>Also, in your code, consider representing objects of interest (such as 
>horses and races) by defining suitable classes.
>
>I think you code would be easier to follow if, for example, it managed a 
>  collection of Horse objects.

I realize it would be easier for people in the fgroup to follow if I
was programming with objects. However, I just don't understand OO
programming, my skills (such as they are) are procedural. 

Ruby was pointed out to me as a language that would allow me to write
procedural programs and so far it is working out very nicely in that
regard.

Your suggestion to try .sort_by didn't work for me. However, I did
read up on  .each and that in fact DID work for me.

The bit where I multiply my c variable by 100 and then add 20 (and
later subtract 20) is a simple way for me to break ties.

# Determining each horse's finishing position
  temp_score = Array.new(count + 1) {|c| 100 * score[c] + 20 -
pole_new[c]}
  sort_score = temp_score.sort
  sort_score.reverse!
  number.each {|a| position[a - 1] = number.detect {|b| sort_score[b -
1] == temp_score[a - 1]}}

Jenny