problems using Sort()

[dkl]

Could someone please explain what is wrong with the code below?

If I cut out the 'sort()' command from this code it will print out the array

If I add the 'sort()' command to this code it will NOT print out the array and I get an error

If I Dim a$(12,12) then it will only print out " - "

If I change sort a$(), 12,12,1 then it will print the array, but it will NOT sort the array in order of names

I actually want to sort the array based on column 2 (the values). I realise that I should put '2' as the last digit in the sort command

Any help would be appreciated. Thank You

Dim a$(2,12)

a$(1,1) = "John": a$(2,1) = str$(3)
a$(1,2) = "Jim": a$(2,2) = str$(10)
a$(1,3) = "Mary": a$(2,3) = str$(5)
a$(1,4) = "Josie": a$(2,4) = str$(3)
a$(1,5) = "Fred": a$(2,5) = str$(21)
a$(1,6) = "Betty": a$(2,6) = str$(2)
a$(1,7) = "Garry": a$(2,7) = str$(17)
a$(1,8) = "Robert": a$(2,8) =str$(9)
a$(1,9) = "Freda": a$(2,9) = str$(3)
a$(1,10) = "Amy": a$(2,10) = str$(2)
a$(1,11) = "Ailsa": a$(2,11) = str$(15)
a$(1,12) = "Leila": a$(2,12) = str$(8)

sort a$(), 1, 12, 1

for a = 1 to 12
print a$(1,a);" - ";a$(2,a)
next a

[tsh73]

"You are doing it wrong" (sorry cannot resist )

first index supposed to be long one (row number, lot's of rows)
second - column number

If you see help on SORT you will see it.
So basically you need to transpose array.

Also SORT has a bug (I think) there it dies if number of rows is less thern number of columns.
Dim a$(2,12)

a$(1,1) = "John": a$(2,1) = str$(3)
a$(1,2) = "Jim": a$(2,2) = str$(10)
a$(1,3) = "Mary": a$(2,3) = str$(5)
a$(1,4) = "Josie": a$(2,4) = str$(3)
a$(1,5) = "Fred": a$(2,5) = str$(21)
a$(1,6) = "Betty": a$(2,6) = str$(2)
a$(1,7) = "Garry": a$(2,7) = str$(17)
a$(1,8) = "Robert": a$(2,8) =str$(9)
a$(1,9) = "Freda": a$(2,9) = str$(3)
a$(1,10) = "Amy": a$(2,10) = str$(2)
a$(1,11) = "Ailsa": a$(2,11) = str$(15)
a$(1,12) = "Leila": a$(2,12) = str$(8)

'sort a$(), 1, 12, 1

print "source array"
for a = 1 to 12
print a$(1,a);" - ";a$(2,a)
next a

dim b$(12,2)

for a = 1 to 12
   b$(a,1)=a$(1,a)
   b$(a,2)=a$(2,a)
next a

print "sort by name"

sort b$(), 1, 12, 1

for a = 1 to 12
print b$(a,1);" - ";b$(a,2)
next a
print "sort by str$(number)"

sort b$(), 1, 12, 2

for a = 1 to 12
print b$(a,1);" - ";b$(a,2)
next a



[dkl]

Ahh.....Thank you for that, tsh73. I have used two dimensioned array$ before the same way with out a problem but never used sort() with it
However, I will make note of your comments and do it your way in future.
I would like to be able to change sort by number to sort by value so I get .....21,17,15,10,9,8 etc rather than 10,15,17,2,2,21,3,5,7 etc

Is that possible?

[tsh73]

By using extra column to sorn on
Dim a$(2,12)

a$(1,1) = "John": a$(2,1) = str$(3)
a$(1,2) = "Jim": a$(2,2) = str$(10)
a$(1,3) = "Mary": a$(2,3) = str$(5)
a$(1,4) = "Josie": a$(2,4) = str$(3)
a$(1,5) = "Fred": a$(2,5) = str$(21)
a$(1,6) = "Betty": a$(2,6) = str$(2)
a$(1,7) = "Garry": a$(2,7) = str$(17)
a$(1,8) = "Robert": a$(2,8) =str$(9)
a$(1,9) = "Freda": a$(2,9) = str$(3)
a$(1,10) = "Amy": a$(2,10) = str$(2)
a$(1,11) = "Ailsa": a$(2,11) = str$(15)
a$(1,12) = "Leila": a$(2,12) = str$(8)

'sort a$(), 1, 12, 1

'print "source array"
'for a = 1 to 12
'print a$(1,a);" - ";a$(2,a)
'next a

'dim b$(12,2)
dim b$(12,3)

for a = 1 to 12
   b$(a,1)=a$(1,a)
   b$(a,2)=a$(2,a)
   b$(a,3)=right$("00000"+b$(a,2),5) '10->00010, 7->00007. So 10 sorts above 7
next a

print "sort by 00000str$(number), descending"

'sort b$(), 1, 12, 3
sort b$(), 12, 1, 3 'descending sort

for a = 1 to 12
print b$(a,1),b$(a,2),b$(a,3)
next a



[dkl]

That is really neat! Thank you