The SortedList object uses a key/value combination to sort a list. The SortedList can be databound to the following ASP.NET controls:

• asp:RadioButtonList
• asp:CheckBoxList
• asp:DropDownList
• asp:ListBox

Our examples will bind a SortedList to an asp:ListBox.

<asp:ListBox ID="lsbPresidents" runat="server" />

Numeric Sort

SortedList s = new SortedList();
s.Add(16, "Lincoln");
s.Add(42, "Clinton");
s.Add(40, "Reagan");
s.Add(1, "Washington");

lsbPresidents.DataSource = s;
lsbPresidents.DataValueField = "key";
lsbPresidents.DataTextField = "value";
lsbPresidents.DataBind();

Results:

Washington
Lincoln
Reagan
Clinton      

Alphabetic

SortedList s = new SortedList();
s.Add("L", "Lincoln");
s.Add("C", "Clinton");
s.Add("R", "Reagan");
s.Add("W", "Washington");

lsbPresidents.DataSource = s;
lsbPresidents.DataValueField = "key";
lsbPresidents.DataTextField = "value";
lsbPresidents.DataBind();

Results:

Clinton   
Lincoln  
Reagan 
Washington

Date Sort

SortedList s = new SortedList();
s.Add(Convert.ToDateTime("2/12/1809"), "Lincoln");
s.Add(Convert.ToDateTime("8/19/1946"), "Clinton");
s.Add(Convert.ToDateTime("2/6/1911"), "Reagan");
s.Add(Convert.ToDateTime("2/22/1732"), "Washington");

lsbPresidents.DataSource = s;
lsbPresidents.DataValueField = "key";
lsbPresidents.DataTextField = "value";
lsbPresidents.DataBind();

Results:

Washington
Lincoln
Reagan
Clinton      

Labels: ASP.NET