Comparing strings in Java?

[blackrobe]

Hi there,

I'm writing a function to compare strings from two lists, but I'm facing problems comparing the two strings in an easy straightforward way due to my lack of knowledge in Java. I use Python more often which is way easier than Java in string manipulation and comparison.

My code:

for (String s1 : list1){
            for (String s2 : list2){
                if (s1.compareTo(s2) > 0){
                    return true;
                }
            }
        }
        return false;

Basically, what I'm trying to do is this :
I want to know if for example : "M10" is in "MW10-12" which it is, and should return true. Another example: "F9-11" is in "MW10-12" which it is not, and should return false.

So my question is: How do I compare such strings in a smooth way without having to split them in to char[] or String[]....

Thank you for your help!

[peter_budo]

You don't want to compare string in this case. You need to run regular expressions. Have look at this Regular Expressions tutorial from Sun

[JamesCherrill]

compareTo returns -1, +1, or 0 depending on whether the string sorts before or after, or is exactly equal to the other string. You're testing for +1, so that's why you get false "equals". To see if one sting occurs inside another one, use String.indexOf(String), which returns the index where the second string starts in the first, or -1 if it's not present.

[peter_budo]

compareTo returns -1, +1, or 0 depending on whether the string sorts before or after, or is exactly equal to the other string. You're testing for +1, so that's why you get false "equals". To see if one sting occurs inside another one, use String.indexOf(String), which returns the index where the second string starts in the first, or -1 if it's not present.

You cannot use String.indexOf(String) since original request was

"M10" is in "MW10-12" which it is, and should return true. Another example: "F9-11" is in "MW10-12" which it is not, and should return false.

You may consider using String.indexOf(String) if you will work with strings and not with character combination like was requested

[JamesCherrill]

Ooops! Yes, you're right. I missed the "W" when I read the OP. Sorry.