How to sort ListBox items alphabetically in asp.net

asp.net listbox sort alphabetically

this tutorial help you to create a sorted listbox in asp.net. you can make a sorted listbox manually by placing list items alphabetically. in asp.net listbox there are no built in feature to sort listbox list items. so we need to apply some techniques to populate a sorted listbox.

We also need to ensure that the sorting will generate only one time when the page load first time. here we create a generic list with listbox list items. then sort it's items using linq technology. then clear the listbox. at last we populate the listbox by sorted generic list.

listbox-sort-alphabetically.aspx


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true"%>    
      
<!DOCTYPE html>
        
<script runat="server">  
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)  
    {   
        if(!Page.IsPostBack)
        {
            List<ListItem> list = new List<ListItem>(ListBox1.Items.Cast<ListItem>());
            
            //sort list item alphabetixcally
            list = list.OrderBy(x=> x.Text).ToList<ListItem>();

            ListBox1.Items.Clear();
            ListBox1.Items.AddRange(list.ToArray<ListItem>());
        }
    }
    protected void ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Label1.Text = "you selected....<br />";
        Label1.Text += "item: " + ListBox1.SelectedItem.Text;
        Label1.Text += "<br />value: " + ListBox1.SelectedItem.Value;
    }
</script>        
        
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">        
<head id="Head1" runat="server">        
    <title>asp.net listbox sort alphabetically</title>  
</head>        
<body>        
    <form id="form1" runat="server">        
    <div>        
        <h2 style="color:MidnightBlue; font-style:italic;">        
            asp.net example - listbox sort alphabetically
        </h2>        
        <hr width="550" align="left" color="Gainsboro" />        
        <asp:Label       
            ID="Label1"       
            runat="server"      
            Text="select an item from ListBox."
            Font-Size="X-Large"
            Width="350"
            >      
        </asp:Label>      
        <br /><br />  
        <asp:ListBox  
            ID="ListBox1"  
            runat="server"  
            AutoPostBack="true"  
            Width="350"  
            Font-Size="X-Large"
            SelectionMode="Single"
            Height="200"  
            OnSelectedIndexChanged="ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged"
            >  
            <asp:ListItem Text="Rufous-tailed Plantcutter" Value="1"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Andean Cock-of-the-rock" Value="2"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Yellow-bellied Elaenia" Value="3"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Grey-hooded Flycatcher" Value="4"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Cliff Flycatcher" Value="5"></asp:ListItem>
        </asp:ListBox>  
    </div>        
    </form>        
</body>        
</html>

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