Xml string comparison

Question

Hi All
I have 2 xml strings as shown below. (Each set is in a string)
<set>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname1'>34</item>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname2'>35</item>
<item table_name='tname3' column_name='colname1'>36</item>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname4'>37</item>
<item table_name='tname2' column_name='colname1'>38</item>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname5'>39</item>
</set>
<set>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname1'>34</item>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname2'>36</item>
<item table_name='tname3' column_name='colname1'>38</item>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname4'>mmm</item>
<item table_name='tname2' column_name='colname1'>38</item>
<item table_name='tname1' column_name='colname5'>50</item>
</set>
I have a table with 3 fields:
TableName, ColumnName, Inc_Exc
tname1, column1, I
tname1, column2, E
tname3, column1, I
I need to write to a file that...
The two sets are identical if all fields in the table that has inc_exc flag set to I are same.
In the above example I have to say it is different because tname3 and column name1 has an include flag but has different values.
Please note that the sets would have been similar if tname3 and colname1 has same value. Even though other values may differ.
I do not have to take values for which there in entry in my database table.
Any ideas how to do this....
Code sample is appreciated, however if basic idea is given I can code it myself.
Thanks much
bib

Answer 1

But this is just basic Java programming, nothing XML-related.
if (lastChunk != prevChunk)Don't use == (or !=) to compare the contents of two String objects. Always use the equals() method, otherwise you are just comparing to see if they are (or aren't) the same object. Two different String objects can contain the same contents. In your case:
if (! lastChunk.equals(prevChunk))with the appropriate checks for null, if necessary.