# Sort rows and columns of NamedArray
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374
**Category:** General Usage
**Tags:** sort
**Created:** [December 25, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374 "2020-12-25T13:31:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Christopher\_Fisher](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Christopher_Fisher)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374/1 "2020-12-25T13:31:45Z")
I am working with a frequency table that is based on a NamedArray. I am having trouble reverse sorting the dimensions. Here is an example:
```julia
n = NamedArray([1 3; 2 4], ( ["a", "b"], ["c", "d"] ), ("Rows", "Cols"))
```
Result:
```julia
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
a │ 1 3
b │ 2 4
```
Next, I try to reverse sort on dimension 1
```julia
sort!(n, dims=1, rev=true)
```
Result:
```julia
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
a │ 2 4
b │ 1 3
```
Notice that the values in the rows were reversed, but not the names (a, b). How to I sort values and names? Thanks!
Edit: I realize this can be accomplished with `setnames!` and `sort`, but I was wondering if there is a way to do it with a single function.
---
### Author:  [@oheil](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/oheil)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374/2 "2020-12-25T14:12:55Z")
The problem is not well defined. Consider:
```julia
julia> n = NamedArray([1 3; 4 2], ( ["a", "b"], ["c", "d"] ), ("Rows", "Cols"))
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
a │ 1 3
b │ 4 2
julia> sort!(n, dims=1, rev=true)
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
a │ 4 3
b │ 1 2
```
As the row entries are not necessarily kept together, there is no rule for row names.
So, you have to do it according to your own rules in the way which fits for you.
---
### Author:  [@Christopher\_Fisher](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Christopher_Fisher)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374/3 "2020-12-25T14:24:33Z")
Yeah. I see the problem. I want to sort the rows, not the values independently within the rows. Is there a way to change the order of the names such that the values stay with them? For example:
```julia
julia> n = NamedArray([4 2; 1 3], ( ["b", "a"], ["c", "d"] ), ("Rows", "Cols"))
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
b │ 4 2
a │ 1 3
```
---
### Author:  [@Christopher\_Fisher](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Christopher_Fisher)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374/4 "2020-12-25T14:55:35Z")
I suppose one approach is to index and create a copy:
```julia
julia> n[["b","a"],:]
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
b │ 4 2
a │ 1 3
```
---
### Author:  [@oheil](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/oheil)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374/5 "2020-12-25T17:20:01Z")
Still not uniquely clear.
I assume you want from
```julia
julia> n = NamedArray([4 2; 1 3], ( ["b", "a"], ["c", "d"] ), ("Rows", "Cols"))
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
b │ 4 2
a │ 1 3
```
get it sorted like:
```julia
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
a │ 1 3
b │ 4 2
```
So, every row still contains same column value pairs but the rows are sorted regarding all column values, with the first column highest precedence, then second and so on.
I can’t do it with sort!, thats my solution:
```julia
julia> n = NamedArray([4 2; 1 3], ( ["b", "a"], ["c", "d"] ), ("Rows", "Cols"))
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
b │ 4 2
a │ 1 3
julia> p = sort(1:size(n,1); lt = (x,y)->Tuple(n[x,:]) n[p,:]
2×2 Named Array{Int64,2}
Rows ╲ Cols │ c d
────────────┼─────
a │ 1 3
b │ 4 2
```
Typically others will present much better solutions in a while 😉
---
### Author:  [@Christopher\_Fisher](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Christopher_Fisher)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/sort-rows-and-columns-of-namedarray/52374/6 "2020-12-25T19:38:14Z")
Much appreciated. Thank you!