iX Computer Systems - Edition 1 (32715-90001)

3- 27

The null string ("") is less than every string except itself, to which it

is equal. The following explanation does not apply to the null string.

HP Business BASIC/XL compares the strings S1$ and S2$ as follows

(S1$[

;1] and S2$[

;1] are corresponding characters).

2. If CHR$(S1$[

;1])<CHR$(S2$[

;1]), then S1$ is less than S2$.

Stop.

3. If CHR$(S1$[

;1])>CHR$(S2$[

;1]), then S1$ is greater than S2$.

Stop.

4. CHR$(S1$[

;1])=CHR$(S2$[

;1]). If

+1 is in the range [1, MIN(

LEN(S1$), LEN(S2$) )], then

+1 and return to step 2.

5. If LEN(S1$) = LEN(s2$) then S1$ is equal to S2$. Stop.

6. If LEN(S1$) > LEN(s2$) then S1$ is greater than S2$. Stop.

7. If LEN(S1$) < LEN(s2$) then S1$ is less than S2$. Stop.

(MIN and LEN are the predefined minimum and length functions.)

Examples

The following expressions are TRUE:

"Abc" = "Abc" "Cat" <> "Cats" "Bird" < "Cats"

"Abc" <= "Abc" "Cat" < "Cats" "Ears" > "Early"

"Abc" >= "Abc" "Cat" <= "Cats" "Bird " + "Dog" = "Bird Dog"

The following expressions are FALSE:

"Abc" # "Abc" "Cat" = "Cats" "Bird" >= "Cats"

"Abc" < "Abc" "Cat" < "Bats" "Ears" < "Early"

"Abc" > "Abc" "BAT" = "bat" "Bird" + "Dog" = "Bird Dog"

Boolean Operators

A Boolean operator has one or two operands and a Boolean result.

The Boolean values TRUE and FALSE are represented by the numeric values

one and zero. The operands of a Boolean expression can be Boolean or

numeric values. A numeric operand is considered TRUE if it is nonzero

and FALSE if it is zero.

HP Business BASIC/XL also provides the two keywords TRUE and FALSE. TRUE

is a numeric constant of short integer type equal to one. FALSE is a