How to sort a 2-d array based upon column of dates in ascending order

Question

import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.Date;

//Class  that returns a string columnn in ascending order

public class DateCompare implements Comparator {

    int columnToSort;
    DateCompare(int columnToSort) {
        this.columnToSort = columnToSort;
    }

    //overriding compare method
    public int compare(Object o1, Object o2) {
        Date[] row1 = (Date[]) o1;
        Date[] row2 = (Date[]) o2;
        //compare the columns to sort
        return row1[columnToSort].compareTo(row2[columnToSort]);
    }
}

My 2-D array stores phone names and their Dates of manufacture. Friends,I have made a class named DateCompare that sorts 2-D array of records based upon column that stores dates. This is not giving the desired output.Can anyone rectify this or give a better substitute solution because i couldn't find a clear answer on any site? Thanks in advance!!!

input(for example):

Samsung                   01/01/2014
iphone                    09/02/2006
Motorola                  16/06/2009

Output:

iphone                    09/02/2006
Motorola                  16/06/2009
Samsung                   01/01/2014

Answer 1

Why a 2D array, why not write a class to hold your data in a structured manner?

public class MyTuple implements Comparable<Date> 
{
    String phone;
    Date date;

    @Override 
    public int compareTo( Date d )
    {
         return d.compareTo( this.date );
    }
}

and use a List<MyTuple> instead of an array? I believe it was Joachim Sauer on this site that taught me the phrase "object denial" of which this is a good example :-)

Cheers,