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Subject:RE: character string order From:"Geoff Lane" <geoff -at- gjctech -dot- co -dot- uk> To:"'TECHWR-L'" <TECHWR-L -at- LISTS -dot- RAYCOMM -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 12 Jan 2000 14:45:44 -0000
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Benzi Schreiber
>
> I have a bunch of character strings that are sorted as follows:
>
> adam < armageddon < bob < beryl
>
> The programmers are calling this "lexicografical order", but
> the closest
> I've found is "lexicografic". Does the word "lexicografical" exist?
> Does either of these words describe the order I'm using?
---
"Lexicographical" exists in the Oxford English Dictionary. It is a adjective
related to, "compiling a dictionary" -- my interpretation is that it means,
"in dictionary order". Your example is not in this order (it should be adam,
armageddon, beryl, bob).
If the strings only contain alpha characters and the sort is not
case-sensitive, I'd describe the sorting as 'alphabetical'. Otherwise I'd
use the method that the program does the sorting (for example, "in ASCII
order" or, "in EBCDIC order") and give a simple example if necessary.
HTH,
Geoff Lane
Cornwall, UK
geoff -at- gjctech -dot- co -dot- uk
