What is Comparison?

This program demonstrates the algorithm that Tempo uses to compare strings with the contents of the Clipboard.

Strings representing numbers are converted to integers and compared.

The first string only may contain '?', '*', and '' metacharacters.

The '?' matches any character in the second string IN THAT PLACE.

The '*' matches a 'substring' of zero or more characters in the second string, until the character following the '*' is matched. 'A*C' would match 'ABC', 'AXXXXXC', 'A*C', & 'AC'.

'Any*' would match 'Anybody', 'anyway', 'ANY', or 'any**??!!z'.

Note that 'a*c*e?' and such are legal. Also note that '**' equals '*'. 

In the phrase 'a*?z', the '*' is superfluous. 'a*?z' equals 'a?z.'

The '' before a '?', '*', or '' robs that character of its special powers, so a '?' is exclusively equal to '?', etc. Elsewhere, '' = ''.

Unknown Author. (1985). Comparison. In-Program Instructions.

Download Comparison for Mac

Architecture

Motorola 68K

System Requirements

From Mac OS 1.0 up to Mac OS 9.2

Compatibility notes

Emulating this? It could probably run under: Mini vMac