C# Sort generic list by column name

Data in DataTable can be sorted using string column name

DataView dv = new DataView(ds.Tables[0], "","SortExpression" + " " + "SortDirection", DataViewRowState.CurrentRows);

For list we cannot pass sort expression and direction in string format. We have to find the column using reflection and then sort the column as given below

PropertyInfo pi = typeof(Employee).GetProperty("[ColumnName]");

lstData.OrderBy(i => pi.GetValue(i, null)).ToList();

Given below is an example in ASP.NET

-------------------------------------------------------------

HTML (Add inside ‘form’ tags)

    <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="ddlSortColumn"></asp:DropDownList>

    <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="ddlSortDirection">

        <asp:ListItem Text="asc"></asp:ListItem>

        <asp:ListItem Text="desc"></asp:ListItem>

    </asp:DropDownList>

    <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnReport" Text="Report"

        onclick="btnReport_Click" />

    <br />

    <asp:GridView runat="server" ID="grvData"></asp:GridView>

C# (CodeBehind)

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

            if (!IsPostBack)

            {

                IList<PropertyInfo> props = new List<PropertyInfo>(typeof(Employee).GetProperties());

                ddlSortColumn.DataSource = props;

                ddlSortColumn.DataTextField = "Name";

                ddlSortColumn.DataValueField = "Name";

                ddlSortColumn.DataBind();

                grvData.DataSource = GetData();

                grvData.DataBind();

            }

        }

        protected void btnReport_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

            PropertyInfo pi = typeof(Employee).GetProperty(ddlSortColumn.SelectedValue);

            if (ddlSortDirection.SelectedItem.Text == "asc")

            {

                grvData.DataSource = GetData().OrderBy(i => pi.GetValue(i, null)).ToList();

            }

            else

            {

                grvData.DataSource = GetData().OrderByDescending(i => pi.GetValue(i, null)).ToList();

            }

            grvData.DataBind();

        }

        public List<Employee> GetData()

        {

            List<Employee> employees = new List<Employee>();

            employees.Add(new Employee() { Id = 1, Name = "Employee 1", Age = 25 });

            employees.Add(new Employee() { Id = 2, Name = "Employee 2", Age = 35 });

            employees.Add(new Employee() { Id = 3, Name = "Employee 3", Age = 39 });

            return employees;

        }

        public class Employee

        {

            public int Id { get; set; }

            public string Name { get; set; }

            public int Age { get; set; }

        }