WD: Lowercase a, b, and c Do Not Compare Correctly in WordBasic

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SYMPTOMS

The logical string operation example on page 35 of "Using WordBasic", which compares the values of "c" and "D", does not yield the correct result.

MORE INFORMATION

According to "Using WordBasic," the evaluation of (n = "c" > "D") produces a "TRUE" (non-zero) result because "c" occurs after "D" in the ANSI code set. When you perform this operation in a WordBasic macro, the macro incorrectly reports a "FALSE" (zero) result.

The incorrect result also occurs if you replace "c" with the lowercase letters "a" or "b". In contrast, the lowercase letters "d" through "z" yield correct results. In addition, if you compare the lowercase letters "a", "b" and "c" to their uppercase counterparts (A, B, and C), the macro yields a correct result of "TRUE" (non-zero).

WORKAROUND

Use the ASC macro command to return the ANSI code for the text strings to be compared. The following macro produces correct comparison results:

   n = ASC("c") > ASC("D")
   print n

Steps to Reproduce Problem

The following macro incorrectly reports a "FALSE" (zero) result instead of the correct result of "-1" (TRUE):

      Sub Main
      n = "c" > "D"
      print n
      End Sub

   n = "c" < "D"

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Word listed above. This problem was corrected in Word 97 for Windows and Word 98 Macintosh Edition.

REFERENCES

"Using WordBasic," by WexTech Systems and Microsoft, page 35