How to Sort Multiple Vector Arrays in order of Values

Question

My goal was to find a way to sort a Vector3 based on the value of X, then the value of Y, and then Z. Therefore if value1.x is less than value2.x check the y values.

The application for this code was to keep track of the current place (1st, 2nd, etc.) of race cars on a track using 3 variables: Laps, Specific Points, and Distance to the next Point. If you are a Lap ahead then it would ignore the next point and distance to that point.

After hours of exhaustive research I found the code I needed that I adapted to sort multiple vectors. I decided to post it here because I could not find this specific information anywhere, related to sorting Vector2's, 3's, etc.

Answer 1

using System;

public class SortingVectors : MonoBehaviour {

     public Vector3[] playerInfo;

     void Start () 
     {
         playerInfo = new Vector3[8];
     }
  
 
     void Update () 
     {
      Array.Sort(playerInfo, Vector3Compare);    
     }


     private int Vector3Compare(Vector3 value1, Vector3 value2)
     {
          if (value1.x < value2.x)
         {
             return -1;
         }
         else if(value1.x == value2.x)
         {
             if(value1.y < value2.y)
             {
                 return -1;
             }
             else if(value1.y == value2.y)
             {
                 if(value1.z < value2.z)
                 {
                     return -1;
                 }
                 else if(value1.z == value2.z)
                 {
                     return 0;
                 }
                 else
                 {
                     return 1;
                 }
             }
             else
             {
                 return 1;
             }
         }
         else
         {
             return 1;
         }
     }

}

This arranges the Vector3's based on the X value first, Y second, and then Z.

While this may be very straightforward to many of you, it wasn't until I wrote this out that I fully understood what declaring an int/function actually allows you to do (I probably still don't fully understand).

I hope this helps someone and I believe people will find other applications for this, even with Vector2's or Vector4's.

Thanks for being awesome!

God bless!

Howey

How to Sort Multiple Vector Arrays in order of Values

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