IConnectionMethod[] methods = (IConnectionMethod[]) connectionMethods.toArray(new IConnectionMethod[0]); Arrays.sort(methods, new Comparator(){ public int compare(Object o1, Object o2) { if (o1 instanceof IConnectionMethod && o2 instanceof IConnectionMethod) { IConnectionMethod cm1 = (IConnectionMethod) o1; IConnectionMethod cm2 = (IConnectionMethod) o2; return cm1.getName().compareTo(cm2.getName()); } return 0; }}); pluggedInConnectionMethods = methods;