Confused about a list.sort()

[Amy G]

I have a list of numbers... actully I have two lists, List 1 is a list of
number strings and List2 is one of numbers.

List 1 example:
List1 = [ '20040124123000 ', '20040124123001 ', '20040125012456 ']

List 2 example:
List2 = [ 20040124123000L , 20040124123001L , '20040125012456 L]

When I try either:
List1 = List1.sort ... or
List2 = List2.sirt

and then...
print List1... or
print List2

I get None.

Why is this?
How do I remedy this problem?

[Terry Reedy]

Re: Confused about a list.sort()


"Amy G" <amy-g-art@cox.net> wrote in message
news:S6FRb.2098 $P17.1139@fed1r ead03...[color=blue]
> I have a list of numbers... actully I have two lists, List 1 is a list of
> number strings and List2 is one of numbers.
>
> List 1 example:
> List1 = [ '20040124123000 ', '20040124123001 ', '20040125012456 ']
>
> List 2 example:
> List2 = [ 20040124123000L , 20040124123001L , '20040125012456 L]
>
> When I try either:
> List1 = List1.sort ... or
> List2 = List2.sirt
>
> and then...
> print List1... or
> print List2
>
> I get None.
>
> Why is this?
> How do I remedy this problem?[/color]

Read the library reference manual on builtin objects - sequences - lists -
methods.

Seriously.

TJR

[David Goodger]

Re: Confused about a list.sort()

list.sort() sorts the list in-place; it doesn't return a new list.
Instead of "List1 = List1.sort()" just do "List1.sort ()".

See the FAQ entry:

http://www.python.org/doc/faq/general.html#why-doesn-t-list-sort-return-the-sorted-list

-- David Goodger

[Terry Carroll]

Re: Confused about a list.sort()

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 18:28:09 -0800, "Amy G" <amy-g-art@cox.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have a list of numbers... actully I have two lists, List 1 is a list of
>number strings and List2 is one of numbers.
>
>List 1 example:
>List1 = [ '20040124123000 ', '20040124123001 ', '20040125012456 ']
>
>List 2 example:
>List2 = [ 20040124123000L , 20040124123001L , '20040125012456 L]
>
>When I try either:
>List1 = List1.sort ... or
>List2 = List2.sirt
>
>and then...
>print List1... or
>print List2
>
>I get None.
>
>Why is this?[/color]

Yeah, most everyone who uses sort() for the first time gets bit by this.

Sort() sorts the list in place, and returns None:
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> list1=[20, 40, 60, 80, 10, 30, 50]
>>> list1[/color][/color][/color]
[20, 40, 60, 80, 10, 30, 50][color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> list1.sort()
>>> list1[/color][/color][/color]
[10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80]

So, to sort list1, you just use list1.sort(), not foo = list1.sort()

[wes weston]

Re: Confused about a list.sort()

Amy,
Switch from windoze to linux and provide screen dumps.

wes@linux:~> python
Python 2.3.3c1 (#3, Dec 26 2003, 16:36:50)
[GCC 3.3.1 (SuSE Linux)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright" , "credits" or "license" for more information.[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> list = [3,9,2]
>>> list.sort()
>>> list[/color][/color][/color]
[2, 3, 9]



Amy G wrote:[color=blue]
> I have a list of numbers... actully I have two lists, List 1 is a list of
> number strings and List2 is one of numbers.
>
> List 1 example:
> List1 = [ '20040124123000 ', '20040124123001 ', '20040125012456 ']
>
> List 2 example:
> List2 = [ 20040124123000L , 20040124123001L , '20040125012456 L]
>
> When I try either:
> List1 = List1.sort ... or
> List2 = List2.sirt
>
> and then...
> print List1... or
> print List2
>
> I get None.
>
> Why is this?
> How do I remedy this problem?
>
>[/color]

[Dang Griffith]

Re: Confused about a list.sort()

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 15:22:05 GMT, wes weston <wweston@att.ne t> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Switch from windoze to linux and provide screen dumps.[/color]

I don't understand part of your comment. Windows can provide screen
dumps also. That's not a reason to switch. :-)
--dang