How to sort a QMap<QString, ...> with a custom string order?

[Alain38 0]

Hi,
I have to create a QMap<QString, MyStruct>. The key string is a proprietary coding syntax that do not follow the alphabetical order (too easy otherwise) but has its own order rules. So, I need that my QMap uses this specific syntax. To give you an idea the code is "one letter + number". For the letters I have rules like 'C' < 'A' < 'W' < 'T'. And for the number we are using reverse ordering (12 < 5). And the code is always stored in a QString.

So, my problem is to inject this special order in the QMap. I have seen an option, by internally using a QString container class with its own operator<(). But, does it exist an option by just creating the operator<() on QString, like it is possible with std::map?

[Chris Kawa]

You're trying to fit a square box into a round hole. QMap simply doesn't (publicly) support custom comparators. Wrapping the type is an unnecessary overhead. Adding custom operator< in global scope is harmful pollution. QMap has an undocumented mechanism for customizing comparison function by providing your own qMapLessThanKey implementation, but it's still a bad idea.

Just use a container suited for the task e.g. std::map that allows for custom comparators.

[semlanik]

Inherit of QString class and redefine operator<()

[Alain38 0]

Hi @semlanik,
As it is a shared development, the inputs I have are QString. So, It is just internally that I can use another type. So, using a struct container or create a subclass of QString is equivalent in this case.

[JonB]

@Alain38-0
I do not understand whether you are agreeing with @semlanik's solution or not. Since QMap requires QString keys and sorts on them, without providing its own comparison operator, it seems to me you will have to follow his suggestion of sub-classing QString when you put the keys into the map?

EDIT Apologies, I must have mis-read QMap key type. Ignore me (left here because you responded, deleted my later follow-up). Follow @Pablo-J-Rogina and/or @Chris-Kawa below.

[Alain38 0]

Hi @JonB,
What I said is, have an internal structure StringContainer embedding a QString and create an operator between StringContainer, or have an internal class SubString : public QString embedding the operator is equivalent. For me, the only difference is that, with the StringContainer I'm sure that the code will never use the QString comparaison operator.

[JonB]

This post is deleted!

[Pablo J. Rogina]

@Alain38-0 said in How to sort a QMap<QString, ...> with a custom string order?:

The key string is a proprietary coding syntax that do not follow the alphabetical order (too easy otherwise) but has its own order rules. So, I need that my QMap uses this specific syntax.

If it's an "special" string, then create an "special" class to cope with such own order rules. If not, it's a plain QString and it will follow expected order rules.

As @semlanik said, you need to redefine operator<(). From QMap documentation:

In addition, QMap's key type must provide operator<(). QMap uses it to keep its items sorted, and assumes that two keys x and y are equal if neither x < y nor y < x is true.

[Chris Kawa]

You're trying to fit a square box into a round hole. QMap simply doesn't (publicly) support custom comparators. Wrapping the type is an unnecessary overhead. Adding custom operator< in global scope is harmful pollution. QMap has an undocumented mechanism for customizing comparison function by providing your own qMapLessThanKey implementation, but it's still a bad idea.

Just use a container suited for the task e.g. std::map that allows for custom comparators.