' MergeSort. A stable sort (preserves original order of records with equal ' keys). Like HeapSort, easily adapted to any data type and guaranteed to run ' in O(N log N) time, but almost twice as fast. On the down side,' needs an extra array of N items, but these can be pointers if the keys ' themselves are larger than pointers. Works by repeatedly merging short ' sorted sequences (created by InsertionSort) into longer ones. Two versions ' are given. pMergeSortS is an indirect (pointerized) version for strings,' which can be adapted to doubles by changing the declaration of A(). ' MergeSortL is a direct version for longs, which can be adapted to integers.'' Speed: pMergeSortS sorts 500,000 random strings in 55.3 sec; sorts 100186 ' library call numbers in 9.8 sec; sorts 25479 dictionary words in 3.3 sec ' (random order), 2.9 sec (presorted) or 3.6 sec (reverse sorted). MergeSortL ' sorts 500,000 random longs in 42 seconds. Timed in Excel 2001 on an 800 mhz ' PowerBook.'' Bottom line: fast stable sort that easily handles all data types,' but a heavy memory user.' Usage: Dim S1(L To R) As StringDim P1(L To R) As LongDim P2(L To R) As LongDim L1(L To R) As LongDim L2(L To R) As Long For I = L To R S1(I) = GetRandomString() P1(I) = I L1(I) = GetRandomLong()Next IpMergeSortS L, R, S1, P1, P2MergeSortL L, R, L1, L2' CODE:Sub pMergeSortS(L As Long, R As Long, A() As String, P() As Long, Q() As Long) Dim LP As Long 'left pointer Dim RP As Long 'right pointer Dim OP As Long 'output pointer Dim MID As Long 'This version is for strings; for other data types, ' change declaration of A(). 'MergeSort recursively calls itself until we have lists short enough for ' InsertionSort. If R - L < 10 Then 'call an indirect (pointerized) version of InsertionSort pInsertS L, R, A, P Else 'if too long for InsertionSort, split list and recurse MID = (L + R) 2 pMergeSortS L, MID, A, P, Q pMergeSortS MID + 1, R, A, P, Q 'Each half of the array is sorted; now we'll merge them into the extra ' array. 'We'll work via pointers, to keep the extra array smaller. LP = L RP = MID + 1 OP = L Do 'Copy the pointer to the smaller string. If A(P(LP)) <= A(P(RP)) Then Q(OP) = P(LP) OP = OP + 1 LP = LP + 1 If LP > MID Then 'We ran out of the left half, so transfer the rest of the right ' half. Do Q(OP) = P(RP) OP = OP + 1 RP = RP + 1 Loop Until RP > R 'This merge is done. Exit Do End If Else 'This part is a mirror image of the last part. Q(OP) = P(RP) OP = OP + 1 RP = RP + 1 If RP > R Then Do Q(OP) = P(LP) OP = OP + 1 LP = LP + 1 Loop Until LP > MID Exit Do End If End If Loop 'Finally, we copy the pointers back from the extra array to the main array. For OP = L To R P(OP) = Q(OP) Next OP End IfEnd SubSub pInsertS(L As Long, R As Long, A() As String, P() As Long) Dim LP As Long Dim RP As Long Dim TMP As Long Dim T As String For RP = L + 1 To R TMP = P(RP) T = A(TMP) For LP = RP To L + 1 Step -1 If T < A(P(LP - 1)) Then P(LP) = P(LP - 1) Else Exit For Next LP P(LP) = TMP Next RPEnd SubSub MergeSortL(L As Long, R As Long, A() As Long, B() As Long) Dim LP As Long Dim RP As Long Dim OP As Long Dim MID As Long If R - L < 12 Then InsertL L, R, A() Else MID = (L + R) 2 MergeSortL L, MID, A, B MergeSortL MID + 1, R, A, B LP = L RP = MID + 1 OP = L Do If A(LP) <= A(RP) Then B(OP) = A(LP) OP = OP + 1 LP = LP + 1 If LP > MID Then Do B(OP) = A(RP) OP = OP + 1 RP = RP + 1 Loop Until RP > R Exit Do End If Else B(OP) = A(RP) OP = OP + 1 RP = RP + 1 If RP > R Then Do B(OP) = A(LP) OP = OP + 1 LP = LP + 1 Loop Until LP > MID Exit Do End If End If Loop For OP = L To R A(OP) = B(OP) Next OP End IfEnd SubSub InsertL(L As Long, R As Long, A() As Long) Dim LP As Long Dim RP As Long Dim TMP As Long For RP = L + 1 To R TMP = A(RP) For LP = RP To L + 1 Step -1 If TMP < A(LP - 1) Then A(LP) = A(LP - 1) Else Exit For Next LP A(LP) = TMP Next RPEnd Sub


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