Sorting dates by semesters in R

user_966349 0
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I would like to sort (and rearrange) columns in a tibble object. The table (let's call it dataSet) that I am working with looks like this:

Fall 2019 Fall 2020 Spring 2019 Spring 2020 Spring 2021
1 36 32 43 25
15 84 94 64 65

I would like to have it sorted in the following order.

Spring 2019 Fall 2019 Spring 2020 Fall 2020 Spring 2021
32 1 43 36 25
94 15 64 84 65

Since the columns are essentially strings, I have tried using str_sort(names(dataSet)). However, this returns the original column names as it is already sorted. If I can get the column's name sorted, I know I can rearrange the columns in the tibble object. I've worked with time objects before, but those are usually for formats like mm/dd/yyyy, but nothing in terms of semesters. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

tibble r time sorting
2 Answers

This can work for the data provided but the order of seasons can vary depending on what part of the world we are in.

library(tidyverse)

df <- tibble(`Fall 2019` = c(1, 15), `Fall 2020` = c(36, 84), `Spring 2019` = c(32, 94), `Spring 2020` = c(43, 64), `Spring 2021` = c(25, 65))


names(df) %>% str_match('^(\\D+) (\\d+)') %>%
  as_tibble %>% 
  arrange(V3, desc(V2)) %>% `[`(, 1) %>% 
  pull %>% 
  {select_at(df, .)}
#> Warning: The `x` argument of `as_tibble.matrix()` must have unique column names if `.name_repair` is omitted as of tibble 2.0.0.
#> Using compatibility `.name_repair`.
#> This warning is displayed once every 8 hours.
#> Call `lifecycle::last_lifecycle_warnings()` to see where this warning was generated.
#> # A tibble: 2 × 5
#>   `Spring 2019` `Fall 2019` `Spring 2020` `Fall 2020` `Spring 2021`
#>           <dbl>       <dbl>         <dbl>       <dbl>         <dbl>
#> 1            32           1            43          36            25
#> 2            94          15            64          84            65

Created on 2021-12-01 by the reprex package (v2.0.1)

user_111687660

Use relocate here with the indices. You could also use the names:

library(dplyr)

df %>% 
  relocate(3,1,4,2,5)

  Spring2019 Fall2019 Spring2020 Fall2020 Spring2021
1         32        1         43       36         25
2         94       15         64       84         65
user_133216470
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