Sort List, DateTimes. In a C# program, a List of DateTimes can be sorted. We can base this on the year or the month—any valid ordering of the times is possible.
Example code. This program creates a List of 4 DateTime values. Next it calls the 4 Sort custom methods. After the sorting is done we print out the lists with Console.WriteLine.
Result When we sort a collection of DateTimes, we get them in chronological order. This is due to the comparison functions on DateTime.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
var list = new List<DateTime>();
list.Add(new DateTime(1980, 5, 5));
list.Add(new DateTime(1982, 10, 20));
list.Add(new DateTime(1984, 1, 4));
list.Add(new DateTime(1979, 6, 19));
Display(SortAscending(list), "SortAscending");
Display(SortDescending(list), "SortDescending");
Display(SortMonthAscending(list), "SortMonthAscending");
Display(SortMonthDescending(list), "SortMonthDescending");
}
static List<DateTime> SortAscending(List<DateTime> list)
{
list.Sort((a, b) => a.CompareTo(b));
return list;
}
static List<DateTime> SortDescending(List<DateTime> list)
{
list.Sort((a, b) => b.CompareTo(a));
return list;
}
static List<DateTime> SortMonthAscending(List<DateTime> list)
{
list.Sort((a, b) => a.Month.CompareTo(b.Month));
return list;
}
static List<DateTime> SortMonthDescending(List<DateTime> list)
{
list.Sort((a, b) => b.Month.CompareTo(a.Month));
return list;
}
static void Display(List<DateTime> list, string message)
{
Console.WriteLine(message);
foreach (var datetime in list)
{
Console.WriteLine(datetime);
}
Console.WriteLine();
}
}SortAscending
6/19/1979 12:00:00 AM
5/5/1980 12:00:00 AM
10/20/1982 12:00:00 AM
1/4/1984 12:00:00 AM
SortDescending
1/4/1984 12:00:00 AM
10/20/1982 12:00:00 AM
5/5/1980 12:00:00 AM
6/19/1979 12:00:00 AM
SortMonthAscending
1/4/1984 12:00:00 AM
5/5/1980 12:00:00 AM
6/19/1979 12:00:00 AM
10/20/1982 12:00:00 AM
SortMonthDescending
10/20/1982 12:00:00 AM
6/19/1979 12:00:00 AM
5/5/1980 12:00:00 AM
1/4/1984 12:00:00 AM
The Ascending methods order the data from low to high, and the Descending methods do the opposite. Also, the SortMonth methods sort based on the month value of the DateTimes.
We looked at a way you can sort a List of DateTime instances in your C# program. It is also possible to sort with a query expression. This syntax might be clearer for some programmers.
Dot Net Perls is a collection of tested code examples. Pages are continually updated to stay current, with code correctness a top priority.
Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.