How can i compare the character fields?

Question

I have a requirement to compare the character fields .
I have to compare the 2 character fields of a table CDPOS
As follows .
  If CDPOS-VALUE-OLD  GT  CDPOS-VALUE-NEW
      Populate    REDATED = ‘YES’.
ELSE
      Populate  REDATED = ‘NO’.
My doubt here is how can we compare the character fields.?
   When I do Extended Program Check: I am getting error like this ?
Greater than/less than comparisons with character type operands may not be portable
Please give me idea .
Thanks ,
Suresh Kumar.

Answer 1

Hi suresh,
DATA : a TYPE char10  VALUE 'DBCD',
       b TYPE char10  VALUE '4234',
       c TYPE char10  VALUE '3456',
       d TYPE char10  VALUE 'ADA',
       e TYPE char10 VALUE  '234567'.
IF b GT c.        "this case checks for numeric values
  WRITE :/ 'B is bigger'.
ELSE.
  WRITE :/ 'C is bigger'.
ENDIF.
IF a GT d.      "this case checks for alphbetical order
  WRITE :/ 'A is bigger'.
ELSE.
  WRITE :/ 'D is bigger'.
ENDIF.
IF strlen( a ) GT strlen( d ). "this case checks for no of chars
  WRITE :/ 'A is bigger'.
ELSE.
  WRITE :/ 'D is bigger'.
ENDIF.
IF a GT c.      "this case first alph then numerics
  WRITE :/ 'A is bigger'.
ELSE.
  WRITE :/ 'D is bigger'.
ENDIF.