# System Parameters

'TL' | LIKE Emulates Thoroughbred®

## Description

Sets the LIKE Operator to use a simplified pattern match that emulates the behaviour of LIKE as used by application written for use with Thoroughbred® Basic.

The revised Thoroughbred®-like pattern matching logic is:

> "*" (asterisk) in the mask stands for any number of characters including none.

> "?" in the mask will match any single character.

> [ ... ] will match any of the characters within the brackets.

> A range of characters may be specified by including a dash, as in A-Z, which would match the characters A through Z.

To match any of the above escape characters ( * , ? or [ ), you need to include the character within square brackets as is:

> [*] - Will match an asterisk

> [?] - Will match a question mark

> [[] - Will match an open square bracket

## Default

The default setting is Off, meaning the LIKE operator will use the same pattern matching as MSK( ) function.

## See Also

MSK( ) Scan String for Mask

## Example

"ABCDEF" matches "*DEF", "ABC???", "*CD*" but not "ABC" or "?".

Thoroughbred® is a registered trademark of Thoroughbred Software International, Inc.