Sort Big File with Record Class

Shows how to sort a big file using a record class

If you need to sort a really big file (20Mb and more) you have the BigFileSorter

The Sorter will split the file in blocks, write them to temp files, and finally join all in a sorted file

SortingWithRecord.cs

// OrdersTab must be IComparable<OrdersTab>

// We recommend to split in blocks between 1 and 40 Mb
var sorter = new BigFileSorter<OrdersTab>(10*1024*1024); // 10 Mb blocks

sorter.Sort("unsorted.txt", "sorted.txt");

OrdersTab.cs

[DelimitedRecord("\t")]
public class OrdersTab
    : IComparable<OrdersTab>
{
    public int OrderID;

    public string CustomerID;

    public int EmployeeID;

    public DateTime OrderDate;

    [FieldConverter(ConverterKind.Date, "ddMMyyyy")]
    public DateTime RequiredDate;

    [FieldNullValue(typeof (DateTime), "2005-1-1")]
    public DateTime ShippedDate;

    public int ShipVia;

    public decimal Freight;

    #region IComparable<OrdersTab> Members

    public int CompareTo(OrdersTab other)
    {
        return this.OrderID.CompareTo(other.OrderID);
    }

    #endregion
}