The compare-list BASIC program forms a single list from two lists using the intersection, union, or exclusion operators.
compare-list {file.reference.a}lista operator{file.reference.b} listb{file.reference.c} {listc} {(options)}
or, if the primary and secondary lists are already active:
compare-list operator{listc}{(options}
| file.reference.a | File that contains the list specified in ista. | |
| lista | First list. CAUTION: This argument will be treated as a filename first, then as a listname.
Thus, if a file with the same name as the listname (specified in lista) exists in the file specified in file.reference.a, an error will occur.
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| file.reference.b | File that contains the list specified in listb. | |
| listb | Second list. CAUTION: This argument will be treated as a filename first, then as a listname.
Thus, if a file with the same name as the listname (specified in listb) exists in the file specified in file.reference.b, an error will occur.
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| file.reference.c | File that contains the list specified in listc. | |
| listc | Third list. CAUTION: This argument will be treated as a filename first, then as a listname.
Thus, if a file with the same name as the listname (specified in listc) exists in the file specified in file.reference.c, an error will occur.
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| operators | & | Represents an and or intersection, which means that the item-IDs must exist in both lists. |
| # | Represents a not or exclusion, which means that the item IDs must not exist in both lists. | |
| = | Represents an or union, indicating that the item-IDs can exist in either list. | |
| + | Concatenates listb to the end of lista. For example: lista + listb | |
| - | Removes item-IDs in listb from lista. For example: lista - listb | |
| options | g | Performs a get-list on listc. For example, makes listc active after the process. |
| s | Generates and displays statistics about the items selected during the process. If this option is not used, no message displays. | |
The compare-list command performs the operation (&, #, =, +, or -) on lista and listb and creates a new list, listc. If listc is not specified, it overwrites lista.
Assume that these two lists below are already created and reside in the pointer-file file.
| list1 | list2 |
| 001 cat | 001 banana |
| 002 dog | 002 apple |
| 003 banana | 003 orange |
Since no listc was specified, list1 is overwritten and contains banana, cat, dog, apple, banana, and orange.
compare-list list1 + list2
This example is exactly the same as the first example, but the list is saved as list3. list1 and list2 remain unchanged.
compare-list list1 + list2 list3
Creates a list3, which contains apple, cat, dog, and orange, since none of these display in both list1 and list2. list1 and list2 remain unchanged.
compare-list list1 # list2 list3
Creates and activates list3, which contains apple, banana, cat, dog, and orange, or all unique strings in both list1 and list2. list1 and list2 remain unchanged.
compare-list list1 = list2 list3 (gs list2 list1 list3 Sort time - faster than a speeding second. 3 3 5 Duty time - faster than a speeding second. [404] 5 items selected out of 1 items.
Creates a list3, which contains cat and dog. Those strings, which exist in list2 (banana, in this case) are removed from list1. list1 and list2 remain unchanged.
compare-list list1 - list2 list3
Creates a list3, which contains banana, since it is the only string, which displays in both list1 and list2. list1 and list2 remain unchanged.
compare-list list1 & list2 list3