LT

Syntax

LT(<any>;<any>)

Description

Checks to see if the arguments in Column1 are less than the arguments in Column2. Both columns must contain the same data type. LT then returns a Boolean value, either true if the arguments in Column1 are less than the arguments in Column2 or false if the arguments in Column1 are not less than the arguments in Column2. If one of the arguments is null, that value is lesser than other values, unless all arguments are null.

When comparing strings, first the characters are paired, then the Unicode value of these pairs are compared. If the character pairs are the same, the length of the string is compared. See COMPARE for more information, as these functions operate similarly.

Examples

Data field type	Column1	Column2	LT returns
Integer	15	35	true
Integer	23	23	false
Integer	15	null	false
Float	7.6	15.3	true
Float	10.7	8.6	false
Float	null	7.6	true
Date	Aug 2, 2011 3:55:03 PM	Oct 15, 2010 4:34:34 AM	false
Date	Mar 2, 2002 1:24:12 PM	Mar 2, 2002 1:24:12 PM	false
Date	Mar 2, 2002 1:24:12 PM	Apr 2, 2010 11:42:21 PM	true
Date	Mar 2, 2002 1:24:12 PM	null	false
Boolean	false	true	true
Boolean	true	false	false
Boolean	false	false	false
Boolean	null	false	true
String	Germany	George	false
String	George	George	false
String	German	Germany	true
String	George	null	false
	null	null	false

Instead of using a function, you could also use the equality operator <.