= (equals) , != (not equals)

operator

Return type:
Switch
Returns:
Using =, the result is true if the expressions are equal, and false if they are not. The results are reversed for !=.
Syntax
expression = expression
expression (!)?= expression
    


Purpose

You can determine whether one expression equals another with the = operator. You can determine whether one expression differs from another with the != operator. Either operator can be used with any data type expression. You can compare values of mixed data types (for example, BCD numbers and integers) as long as both types are available and you follow the rules listed in Operations with mixed data types.

For example, the following program compares two string values

  process
     local string left  initial { "Catch-up" }
     local string right initial { "Catch-22" }
  
     do when left != right
        output left 
            || " != "
            || right
            || "%n"
  
     else when left = right
        output "String compare has an error."
            || "%n"
     done
  
  ; Output: "Catch-Up != Catch-22"
          

The following program compares two expressions of differing types:

  import "ombcd.xmd" unprefixed
  
  process
     local bcd     left  initial { 33 }
     local integer right initial { 33 }
  
     do when left = right
        output "Correct. BCD of "
            || "d" % left 
            || " shown as equal to integer of "
            || "d" % right
            || ".%n"
     else
        output "Error. BCD of "
            || "d" % left 
            || " shown as not equal to integer of "
            || "d" % right
            || ".%n"
     done
  
  ; Output: "Correct. BCD of 33 shown as equal to integer of 33."
          

is equal is a deprecated synonym for =, and isnt equal is a deprecated synonym for != .