[Tutor] Sorting a list

[Alan Gauld]

"vince spicer" <vinces1979 at gmail.com> wrote 

> def compare(x,y):
>    try:
>        return cmp(int(x), int(y))
>    except:
>        pass
>    try:
>        int(x)
>    except:
>        return -1
>    try:
>        int(y)
>    except:
>        return 1
>    return 0

Or

def compare(x,y):
     if type(x) == str:  return  -1
     if type(y) == str: return 1
     return cmp(x,y)


Runs into problems if you have multiple strings and want them 
sorted too...


>>> L = [4,3,'word','picture',1,2,3]
>>> sorted(L, cmp=comp)
['picture', 'word', 1, 2, 3, 3, 4]
>>> L = [4,3,'picture','word',1,2,3]
>>> sorted(L, cmp=comp)
['word', 'picture', 1, 2, 3, 3, 4]


HTH,


-- 
Alan Gauld
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/