[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [...] > Duncan> If you don't like the tuple then just do the two sorts separately: > > >>>> lst.sort(key=lambda x: x.imag) > >>>> lst.sort(key=lambda x: x.real) > ... > > I tried that. I could have sworn when I read through the output it hadn't > retained the order of the real parts. Wait a minute... I sorted by real > them by imag. So the trick is to sort by primary sort key last. > > Timeit suggests the single sort returning the real, imag tuples is faster > than two sorts each on one field, as you might expect since many fewer calls > to the key function are made. > Only half the number, of course. The advantage of the key function is that each element requires only one call out to a Python function, and the comparisons then take place using a C-coded comparison function.
But you knew that already, right? regards Steve -- Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119 Holden Web LLC http://www.holdenweb.com/ -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list