alphabetizing xml filled dynamic textfields

[Gleaj522]

So I am looking to alphabetize dynamically created textfield created using a for each loop and XML.

How would I go about this, I searched around and there isn't much about this, and now I feel like I haven't the slightest clue. The one post I found is missing it's own created Utilities class (I believe):

http://help.mfazio.com/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-39.

So where do I even begin?

Thanks for any help in advance! I'm still learning so the more you explain it, the more I learn (Thanks).

[kglad]

are you alphabetizing based on textfield name?  textfield text?  something else?

[Gleaj522]

I'm alphabetizing by textfield text.

[kglad · Accepted solution]

add your textfields to an array and sort it using a custom sort function:

// after text is assigned:

var tfA:Array=[array of textfields];

tfA.sort(sortByText);

function sortByText(tf1:TextField,tf2:TextField):int{

if(tf1.text<tf2.text){

return -1;

} else if(tf1.text>tf2.text){

return 1;

} else {

return 0;

}

}

[Gleaj522]

I have to sort over 100+ textfields, will this way have to be done one by one?

I guess I'm just not fully understanding (again, ELI5...still learning, thanks!)

[kglad]

i gave you all the code you need to sort all 100+ textfields.  the thing not done for you is adding the textfields to tfA but, if you used a pattern to name those textfields (eg, tf1, tf2,...), even that can be done via code.

[Gleaj522]

Sorry I was away. I did not name the textfields 😕 they are sprites using a for each loop. I have to do everything with these textfields via code because of this.

[kglad]

then this should take almost no extra work, at all:

var tfA:Array=[];

//push your textfields into tfA in your for-loop where they are created.  after text is assigned and you want to sort the textfields, call sortTF().

function sortTF():void{

tfA.sort(sortByText);

}

function sortByText(tf1:TextField,tf2:TextField):int{

if(tf1.text<tf2.text){

return -1;

} else if(tf1.text>tf2.text){

return 1;

} else {

return 0;

}

}

[Gleaj522]

Nice! Just a question, where you put

if(tf1.text<tf2.text){

return -1;

} else if(tf1.text>tf2.text){

return 1;

} else {

return 0;

will I have to write

if(tf1.text<tf2.text<tf3.text<tf4.text<tf5.text.......)

and so on?

I'm kind of just curious how this works. I just want to learn as much as possible. Thanks for the help!

[kglad]

no.

just copy and paste the code in message 7 and use the push method to add textfields to tfA in the for-loop where you are creating your sprites.

[Gleaj522]

Thanks for helping me out, seriously!

Unfortunately, after testing, it didnt alphabetize, but it also produced no errors. Does it make any difference that these textfields are also placed into a movie clip?

I assume in this case no, since where I push it into the array, I can still call them individually. This is a time where I wish I had an error!

It seems that when I added a trace to sortByText, that is is not firing either.

Where I push them into the array:

                    public var tfA:Array=[];

                    public function ParseList(xmldata:XML):void

                    {          

                    var nameList:XMLList = xmldata.Searchtext.Directory;

                    directoryScreen.directoryHolder.addChild(textContainer);

                    directoryScreen.directoryHolder.mask = directoryScreen.mask_mc;

                    for each (var nameElement:XML in nameList){

                    format.font = "Arial MT";

                    format.size = 24;

                    format.color = 0x006699;

                    format.align = "left";

                    var currTextField:TextField = new TextField();

                    currTextField.defaultTextFormat = format;

                    currTextField.appendText(nameElement.text() + "\n");

                    currTextField.y= -750+ textContainer.height;

                    currTextField.height = 32;

                    currTextField.width = 280;

                    currTextField.border = false;

                    currTextField.x= -200;

                    currTextField.selectable = false;

                    tfA.push(currTextField);                    

                    textContainer.addChild(currTextField);

                    trace(nameElement.text());

                    textContainer.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, btnListener);

                    sortTF();

                      }

                    }

[kglad]

what are you doing with the sorted textfields?  ie, after sortTF() is called i don't see you doing anything with tfA which, after sortTF is called, contains the sorted textfields.

[Gleaj522]

They are inside of a general textfield called textContainer (so that they will go one sprited textfield under the other and keep together), and then inside of a movieclip called directoryHolder (so I can scroll them) which is inside of another movieclip called directoryScreen (because this tweens on and off the stage with a button).

This is a directory, where when you click on one of the sprited textfields (a name) it lights up a section on a map. The textfields are filled with XML info.

So my goal is to have it alphabetize the sprited textfields by code, so new additions to my XML dont ruin a pattern.

Oh sorry, so yes directly after that is this:

     function sortTF():void{

           tfA.sort(sortByText);

           trace("sorted");

        }

         function sortByText(tf1:TextField,tf2:TextField):int{

            if(tf1.text<tf2.text){

               return -1;

            } else if(tf1.text>tf2.text){

               return 1;

            } else {

               return 0;

            }

          trace("sorting");

        }

[kglad]

you're not encoding what you described.  use:

     function sortTF():void{

           tfA.sort(sortByText);

var nextY:Number;

     for(var i:int=0;i<tfA.length;i++){

tfA.y=nextY;

nextY+=tfA.height;

}

        }

         function sortByText(tf1:TextField,tf2:TextField):int{

            if(tf1.text<tf2.text){

               return -1;

            } else if(tf1.text>tf2.text){

               return 1;

            } else {

               return 0;

            }

          trace("sorting");

        }

[Gleaj522]

When I implement your changes, all the text is ontop of each other on the same line, and the output remains unalphabetized.

My text originally comes one after the other using

                    currTextField.y= -750+ textContainer.height;

                    currTextField.height = 32;

I assume thats what your

                    var nextY:Number;

                     for(var i:int=0;i<tfA.length;i++){

                     tfA.y=nextY;

                     nextY+=tfA.height;

is also trying to implement?

Thanks for sticking with me here.

[kglad]

nextY should be initialized:

     function sortTF():void{

           tfA.sort(sortByText);

var nextY:Number=0

     for(var i:int=0;i<tfA.length;i++){

tfA.y=nextY;

nextY+=tfA.height;

}

        }

         function sortByText(tf1:TextField,tf2:TextField):int{

            if(tf1.text<tf2.text){

               return -1;

            } else if(tf1.text>tf2.text){

               return 1;

            } else {

               return 0;

            }

          trace("sorting");

        }

[Gleaj522]

It works!!

I'm now having a glitch with my scroll bar, but I think some tinkering may help.

Thank you!! Soo much!!

Figured out my glitch, I had to set the var nextY to my original y start point.

Again not enough thanks!!

[kglad]

you're welcome.