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:

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

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!

CodePudding user response：

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)}

CodePudding user response：

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