package org.andromda.utils.beans.comparators;
   
   import java.io.Serializable;
   import java.text.Collator;
   import java.util.Comparator;
   
   /**
    * Used to sort by Character values
    *
   * @author Chad Brandon
   */
  class CharacterComparator
      implements Comparator,
          Serializable
  {
      private static final long serialVersionUID = 34L;
  
      private Collator collator = null;
  
      /**
       * Used to sort Character values, both objects are assumed to be assignable
       * to Character
       * @param objectA
       * @param objectB
       * @return comparison result
       */
      public int compare(
          Object objectA,
          Object objectB)
      {
          Character aAsCharacter = (Character)objectA;
          Character bAsCharacter = (Character)objectB;
          this.initializeCollator();
          return collator.compare(
              Character.toString(aAsCharacter.charValue()),
              Character.toString(bAsCharacter.charValue()));
      }
  
      /**
       * Initializes the Collator
       */
      private void initializeCollator()
      {
          if (this.collator == null)
          {
              this.collator = Collator.getInstance();
  
              //set to ignore case
              collator.setStrength(Collator.PRIMARY);
          }
      }
  }