Sorting an Array

Hi all -

I am learning VBA and need some help understanding how the following code is able to organize an array of strings in alphabetical order. With regard to the For...Next section of code, I'd like to understand how checking if strArray(X) > strArray (Y) results in an alphabetized list. I'm also confused by the assignments - what does it mean when strTemp = strArray(X) and yet in the very next line of code strArray(X) = strArray(Y), and so on. If someone could explain in words how this section alphabetizes the array I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
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THis is a VBA question, so I will move it there where it belongs

work if the values associated with strArray(X) and strArray(Y) aren't numeric values, but rather strings of text? How is it that this formula can determine the word 'defeatism' precedes 'nihilism' using a mathematical operator like ">"? Thanks!

When dealing with text strings, maybe don't think of "less than" or "greater than" but rather "comes before" or "comes after" alphabetically. so a<b<bc<d<def<eag<zzz I think somewhere in the help files is an official list of VBA/ASCII/ANSI official sort order.

I'm not very familiar with sorting algorithms, and it might be more than you want to know anyway. I think the specific algorithm you have there is called a bubble sort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_sort If you are interested, this and other pages may help you better understand how this particular algorithm works. Depending on where you are at in learning programming, it also might introduce you to other sorting algorithms.

Hey vba,

The stuff on the left side of the equation in VBA is REPLACED by the stuff on the right. It doesn't mean they are equal.
So when the code says:
strTemp = strArray(X)
it means the strTemp is overwritten with whatever strArray(X) is.

You need to keep a temp copy of this X guy because in the next line you overwrite it with the line of:
strArray(X) = strArray(Y)
After that line of code is run, both strArray(X) and strArray(Y) are the same thing. Remember you overwrite the stuff on the left side of the equal with the stuff on the right side of the equal.

The code has stored a tempory value of strArray(X) and then in the next line shoves that value/string into the strArray(Y) spot.

I hope that helps.