AMT Datasouth PAL - Manual (Page 95)

89
eq
eq
Description
Compare two objects for equality.
Usage
1Any 2Any eq Bool
1Any Any. First object to compare. With the exception of integer, fixed-point, string,
and name objects, 1Any must have the same object type as 2Any. The operator
will compare integer and fixed-point objects in any combination. The operator
will also compare any combination of string and name objects.
2Any Any. Second object to compare.
Bool Boolean. A value of true indicates equality. A value of false indicates inequal-
ity.
Comments
PAL will compare for equality any two objects of the same object type. PAL will also compare any
combination of integer and fixed-point objects, as well as any combination of string and name
objects.
PAL compares strings and names using the standard ASCII character sorting sequence including
case sensitivity. Therefore, the string (abc) does not match the string (ABC).
For composite objects, the two objects must reference the exact same composite data. Therefore,
the PAL sequence "[1 2 3] [1 2 3] eq" produces the result "false". However, the sequence "[1 2
3] dup eq" produces the result "true".
In the first case, the sequence creates two unique arrays which happen to contain the same data.
Since the array objects reference different data within the printer's memory, the objects do not meet
PAL's condition for equality.
In the second case, the sequence creates a single array and a second reference to the same array
data. Since the array objects reference the same data within the printer's memory, the objects meet
PAL's condition for equality.
Hints
PAL uses the same conditions for equality for the eq operator as it does when comparing key
values in dictionaries.