ComparatorCutter 2.1 build: 9639 released: 2016-07-04 compiled with: Java 1.8.0_131 Jet jet12.0-pro-x86/1.8.0_131

Generates Comparator and Comparable Java code.

signed Java Applet (that can also be run as an application).
Download from: http://mindprod.com/products1.html#COMPARATORCUTTER
View HTML to run this program online at: http://mindprod.com/applet/comparatorcutter.html

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Notes:

You must install the Java JRE to use this program.
See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/jgloss/jre.html

This hybrid program is mainly designed to be used as an Applet in a
browser but is can also be used from the command prompt, e.g. under
Windows command.exe or JPSoft tcc.exe, formerly called the DOS box. Just
clicking the programs in a directory listing will not do anything useful.
Just typing the program names at the command prompt will not either.

This program requires a manual install! See below.

I put out an avalanche of free software into the world, and submit PAD
files to hundreds of distribution sites, but I rarely hear back from
anyone. What's happening? Does it all just work fine? It is so
complicated nobody can figure out how to use it and they give up on it?
It is it useful? Since everyone has the source, do people just fix the
programs to their liking themselves? Did you have trouble installing? Do
I presume you know too much? I would be happy to hear from you about your
experiences, positive or negative and your requests for improvements. A
one-line email to roedy@mindprod.com would be great.

===> Free <===
Full source included.
You may even include the source code, modified or unmodified
in free/commercial open source/proprietary programs that you write and distribute.
May be used freely for any purpose but military.
For more details on this restriction, see
http://mindprod.com/contact/nonmil.html
If you include any Canadian Mind Products code in your own applications,
your app too must be labelled non-military use only.
http://mindprod.com/contact/nonmil.html
All Java jars and source code are included. If you need the class files or Javadoc, you will have to build them yourself. To streamline the zip downloads, class files and Javadoc have been removed.

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Prerequisites:

This program runs under any OS that supports Java,
(e.g.W2K/XP/W2003/Vista/W2008/W7-32/W7-64/W8-32/W8-64/Linux/LinuxARM/LinuxX86
/LinuxX64/Ubuntu/Solaris/SolarisSPARC/SolarisSPARC64/SolarisX86/SolarisX64/OSX/AIX...)
so long as you have
<><> Java version 1.8 <><> or later installed (32-bit or 64-bit Java).
See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/installingjava.html for details.

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Installing on a PC:

Download source and compiled jar files to run on your own machine as an application or Applet
First install a recent Java JDK or JVM.
See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/installingjava.html.
To install, extract the zip download with WinZip
(or similar unzip utility) into any directory you please,
often J:\ -- ticking off the <span class="click">use folder names</span> option.
To run as an application, type:
java.exe %JAVA_OPTIONS -ea -jar J:\com\mindprod\comparatorcutter\comparatorcutter.jar {put any parms here}

adjusting as necessary to account for where the jar file is.

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Installing on a MacIntosh:

Use Safari to download source and compiled jar files to run on your own machine as an application or Applet.
Safari will automatically unpack the zip into ~/Downloads (version 10.5)
[or on the Desktop (version 10.4 and earlier)].
First install a recent Java JDK or JVM.
See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/installingjava.html.
You may optionally move the download tree to a permanent home.
I don't have a MacIntosh, just a PC, so I can't test my Java programs for Mac compatibility.
In theory they should work without problems, but in practice that does not always happen.
If you have problems please, let me know, preferably with screenshots and complete verbatim error messages.
To run as an application, without parameters, just double click the jar file.

To run as an application with parameters, in bash shell type:
open Terminal.app
cd ~/Desktop
java.exe -ea -jar com/mindprod/comparatorcutter/comparatorcutter.jar {put any parms here}

adjusting as necessary to account for where the jar file is.

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Rebuilding:

The zip already contains the necessary jar files, so unless you modify
the program, there is no need to recompile the source or rebuild the jar.
Configure.java basedir="E:/" in rebuild.xml to the drive where your files are.
Configure.java your certificate name with environment SET cert=mindprodcert2017rsa
Configure.java your certificate password with environment SET jarsignerpassword=sesame
Use ANT and rebuild.xml, not build.xml, to recompile and recreate the jar.

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Use:

Comparator Cutter is an Applet that generates custom Java code to
implement Comparable/Comparator. The Applet lets you provide a few facts
about the Comparable or Comparator you want and the ComparatorCutter
generates you well-commented Java source code to include in your own
programs.
It ask you the name of the Comparator class, the name of the class of
objects you are comparing, the names and types of the fields to
sort/compare the objects, and whether you want ascending/descending order
for each field. If you want code that will handle null sort keys, tick
off null safe.
You can also run the Applet online at the mindprod site without installing
it.
Why the striped triangle icon? It is supposed to represent items sorted
in descending order. Each bar is a litter shorter than the previous.

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Version History:

1.0 2009-04-22 work started

1.1 2009-04-28 initial public release

1.2 2009-04-28 move to JDK 1.5 from 1.6

1.3 2009-05-21 refactor to use enum, and permit generics and nested vs top-level Comparators

1.4 2009-05-22 many small polishings based on experience converting existing Comparators to use the cutter.

1.5 2010-01-02 improve prompts, comments, length, add sort order types to sort key summary.

1.6 2011-09-02 change comments to let know can handle enums. Reference to online Applet in generated code.

1.7 2011-11-30 nullSafe, @NotNull, configurable L&F, tie breaker for case-insensitive compares.

1.8 2012-05-26 can now specify target Java version for generated code.

1.9 2013-01-18 use Misc.compare rather than simple subtraction to compare to handle corner cases correctly.

2.0 2014-08-01 add JDK 1.8 support. Add enum support.

2.1 2016-07-04 default now 1.8, two new key types.

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