compare-list Command

The compare-list BASIC program forms a single list from two lists using the intersection, union, or exclusion operators.

Syntax

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}

Parameter(s)

file.reference.a	File that contains the list specified in lista.
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.
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.
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.
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.
options	s	Generates and displays statistics about the items selected during the process. If this option is not used, no message displays.

NOTE	The ? displays the help text on screen.

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.

Example(s)

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