[Overview][Constants][Types][Classes][Procedures and functions][Variables][Index] | Reference for unit 'Objects' (#rtl)

# TStringCollection.Compare

Compare two strings in the collection.

## Declaration

Source position: objects.pp line 459

`function TStringCollection.Compare(`
`Key1: Pointer;`
`Key2: Pointer`
`):Sw_Integer; virtual;`

## Description

TStringCollection overrides the Compare function so it compares the two keys as if they were pointers to strings. The compare is done case sensitive. It returns the following results:

-1
  if the first string is alphabetically earlier than the second string.
0
  if the two strings are equal.
1
  if the first string is alphabetically later than the second string.

## Errors

None.

## See also

TSortedCollection.Compare |  | Compare two items in the collection.

## Example

    Program ex37;

    { Program to demonstrate the TStringCollection.Compare method }

    Uses Objects;

    Var C : PStringCollection;
        S : String;
        I : longint;

    begin
      Randomize;
      C:=New(PStringCollection,Init(120,10));
      C^.Duplicates:=True; { Duplicates allowed }
      Writeln ('Inserting 100 records at random places.');
      For I:=1 to 100 do
        begin
        Str(Random(100),S);
        S:='String with value '+S;
        C^.Insert(NewStr(S));
        end;
      For I:=0 to 98 do
        With C^ do
        If Compare (At(i),At(I+1))=0 then
          Writeln ('Duplicate string found at position ',i);
      Dispose(C,Done);
    end.