Question

there have already been lots of questions asked for Sorting of an NSMutableArray still am unable to find the exact solution for my problem.Kindly follow up:

I have an arrMasterArray which is something like this:

    //This is an array of dictionaries with each element having dictionary at its index and key-value for the same.
    <__NSArrayM 0x8bbaca0>(
    {
        "Brand_Description" = Accolate;
        "Medication_DateStart" = "5/5/2012 12:00:00 AM";
    },{
        "Brand_Description" =Trisenox;
        "Medication_DateStart" = "5/5/2012 12:00:00 AM";
    }, {
        "Brand_Description" = Ultiva;
        "Medication_DateStart" = "5/5/2012 12:00:00 AM";
    } ,{
        "Brand_Description" = Accretropin;
        "Medication_DateStart" = "5/5/2012 12:00:00 AM";
    } 

I apply sorting on arrMasterArray which returns me an sorted array but with only elements of that particular keyPath:

NSArray *arrNameCompare= [[arrMasterArray valueForKeyPath:@"Brand_Description"] sortedArrayUsingSelector:@selector(compare:)]; 

which outputs something like this:

<__NSArrayI 0x10e0efb0>(
Accolate,
Accretropin,
Trisenox,
Ultiva
)

Now i want arrMasterArray to get sorted according to **arrNameCompare**.

I searched a lot but no luck. Thanks for your patience and sorry for my english.
Thanks Again.

Answer 1

I think what you’re looking for is the NSMutableArray method, sortUsingDescriptors:. This method sorts your (mutable) array “in place” rather than creating a new array like sortedArrayUsingSelector:. So, if I understand what you’re trying to do, then these lines will sort arrMasterArray according to the values of Brand_Description:

 NSSortDescriptor *sorter = [NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"Brand_Description" ascending:YES];
 [arrMasterArray sortUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObject:sorter]];