redefined qse_awk_mmgr(), qse_awk_getcmgr(), qse_setcmgr() by exposing the mmgr/cmgr fields via qse_awk_alt_t.

implemented comparison operations for the fun value.
changed behavior of some comparison operations that would otherwise result in a runtime error

qse/cmd/awk/awk.c

@@ -219,8 +219,7 @@ static qse_htb_walk_t print_awk_value (
 	return QSE_HTB_WALK_FORWARD;
 }
 
-static qse_htb_walk_t set_global (
-	qse_htb_t* map, qse_htb_pair_t* pair, void* arg)
+static qse_htb_walk_t set_global (qse_htb_t* map, qse_htb_pair_t* pair, void* arg)
 {
 	qse_awk_val_t* v;
 	qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx = (qse_awk_rtx_t*)arg;

qse/include/qse/awk/awk.h

@@ -91,6 +91,17 @@ typedef qse_flt_t qse_awk_flt_t;
  */
 typedef struct qse_awk_t qse_awk_t;
 
+#define QSE_AWK_HDR \
+	qse_mmgr_t* mmgr; \
+	qse_cmgr_t* cmgr
+
+typedef struct qse_awk_alt_t qse_awk_alt_t;
+struct qse_awk_alt_t
+{
+	/* ensure that qse_awk_alt_t matches the beginning part of qse_awk_t */
+	QSE_AWK_HDR;
+};
+
 /** \struct qse_awk_rtx_t
  * The #qse_awk_rtx_t type defines a runtime context. A runtime context 
  * maintains runtime state for a running script. You can create multiple
@@ -1401,7 +1412,7 @@ typedef enum qse_awk_gbl_id_t qse_awk_gbl_id_t;
  */
 enum qse_awk_val_type_t
 {
-	/* the values between QSE_AWK_VAL_NIL and QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP inclusive
+	/* the values between QSE_AWK_VAL_NIL and QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN inclusive
 	 * must be synchronized with an internal table of the __cmp_val 
 	 * function in run.c and the __val_type_name in val.c */
 	QSE_AWK_VAL_NIL     = 0, /**< nil */
@@ -1409,11 +1420,11 @@ enum qse_awk_val_type_t
 	QSE_AWK_VAL_FLT     = 2, /**< floating-pointer number */
 	QSE_AWK_VAL_STR     = 3, /**< string */
 	QSE_AWK_VAL_MBS     = 4, /**< byte array */
-	QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP     = 5, /**< map */
+	QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN     = 5, /**< function pointer */
+	QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP     = 6, /**< map */
 
-	QSE_AWK_VAL_REX     = 6, /**< regular expression */
-	QSE_AWK_VAL_REF     = 7, /**< reference to other types */
-	QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN     = 8
+	QSE_AWK_VAL_REX     = 7, /**< regular expression */
+	QSE_AWK_VAL_REF     = 8  /**< reference to other types */
 };
 typedef enum qse_awk_val_type_t qse_awk_val_type_t;
 
@@ -1525,9 +1536,15 @@ QSE_EXPORT void qse_awk_close (
  * The qse_awk_getmmgr() function gets the memory manager used in
  * qse_awk_open().
  */
-QSE_EXPORT qse_mmgr_t* qse_awk_getmmgr (
-	qse_awk_t* awk
-); 
+#if defined(MOO_HAVE_INLINE)
+	static MOO_INLINE qse_mmgr_t* qse_awk_getmmgr (qse_awk_t* awk) { return awk->mmgr; }
+	static MOO_INLINE qse_cmgr_t* qse_awk_getcmgr (qse_awk_t* awk) { return awk->cmgr; }
+	static MOO_INLINE void qse_setcmgr (qse_awk_t* awk, qse_awk_cmgr_t* cmgr) { awk->cmgr = cmgr; }
+#else
+#	define qse_awk_getmmgr(awk) (((qse_awk_alt_t*)(awk))->mmgr)
+#	define qse_awk_getcmgr(awk) (((qse_awk_alt_t*)(awk))->cmgr)
+#	define qse_awk_setcmgr(awk,mgr) (((qse_awk_alt_t*)(awk))->cmgr = (mgr))
+#endif
 
 /** 
  * The qse_awk_getxtn() function gets the poniter to the beginning

qse/lib/awk/awk-prv.h

@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ struct qse_awk_tok_t
 
 struct qse_awk_t
 {
-	qse_mmgr_t* mmgr;
-	qse_cmgr_t* cmgr;
+	/* exposed fields via qse_awk_alt_t */
+	QSE_AWK_HDR;
 
 	/* primitive functions */
 	qse_awk_prm_t  prm;

qse/lib/awk/awk.c

@@ -395,11 +395,6 @@ void qse_awk_clear (qse_awk_t* awk)
 	 */
 }
 
-qse_mmgr_t* qse_awk_getmmgr (qse_awk_t* awk)
-{
-	return awk->mmgr;
-}
-
 void* qse_awk_getxtn (qse_awk_t* awk)
 {
 	return QSE_XTN (awk);
@@ -420,7 +415,7 @@ static int dup_str_opt (qse_awk_t* awk, const void* value, qse_cstr_t* tmp)
 	if (value)
 	{
 		tmp->ptr = qse_strdup(value, awk->mmgr);
-		if (tmp->ptr == QSE_NULL)
+		if (!tmp->ptr)
 		{
 			qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
 			return -1;

qse/lib/awk/fnc.c

@@ -1517,7 +1517,6 @@ static int fnc_asort (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_fnc_info_t* fi)
 {
 	qse_size_t nargs;
 	qse_awk_val_t* a0;
-	qse_awk_int_t lv;
 	qse_awk_val_t* r;
 	int n;
 
@@ -1527,12 +1526,7 @@ static int fnc_asort (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_fnc_info_t* fi)
 
 	a0 = qse_awk_rtx_getarg(rtx, 0);
 
-	n = qse_awk_rtx_valtoint(rtx, a0, &lv);
-	if (n <= -1) return -1;
-
-	r = qse_awk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, lv);
-	if (r == QSE_NULL) return -1;
-
+	r = qse_awk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, QSE_AWK_RTX_GETVALTYPE(rtx, a0) == QSE_AWK_VAL_NIL);
 	qse_awk_rtx_setretval (rtx, r);
 	return 0;
 }

qse/lib/awk/misc.c

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ void* qse_awk_callocmem (qse_awk_t* awk, qse_size_t size)
 void* qse_awk_reallocmem (qse_awk_t* awk, void* ptr, qse_size_t size)
 {
 	void* nptr = QSE_AWK_REALLOC(awk, ptr, size);
-	if (nptr == QSE_NULL) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
+	if (!nptr) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
 	return nptr;
 }
 
@@ -64,21 +64,21 @@ void qse_awk_freemem (qse_awk_t* awk, void* ptr)
 qse_char_t* qse_awk_strdup (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_char_t* s)
 {
 	qse_char_t* ptr = QSE_AWK_STRDUP(awk, s);
-	if (ptr == QSE_NULL) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
+	if (!ptr) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
 	return ptr;
 }
 
 qse_char_t* qse_awk_strxdup (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_char_t* s, qse_size_t l)
 {
 	qse_char_t* ptr = QSE_AWK_STRXDUP(awk, s, l);
-	if (ptr == QSE_NULL) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
+	if (!ptr) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
 	return ptr;
 }
 
 qse_char_t* qse_awk_cstrdup (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* s)
 {
 	qse_char_t* ptr = qse_cstrdup(s, awk->mmgr);
-	if (ptr == QSE_NULL) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
+	if (!ptr) qse_awk_seterrnum (awk, QSE_AWK_ENOMEM, QSE_NULL);
 	return ptr;
 }
 

qse/lib/awk/parse.c

@@ -4252,8 +4252,10 @@ static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_increment (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_awk_loc_t* xloc
 #define FNTYPE_FNC 1
 #define FNTYPE_FUN 2
 
-static QSE_INLINE int isfunname (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* name)
+static QSE_INLINE int isfunname (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* name, qse_awk_fun_t** fun)
 {
+	qse_htb_pair_t* pair;
+
 	/* check if it is an awk function being processed currently */
 	if (awk->tree.cur_fun.ptr)
 	{
@@ -4265,14 +4267,20 @@ static QSE_INLINE int isfunname (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* name)
 	}
 
 	/* check the funtion name in the function table */
-	if (qse_htb_search(awk->tree.funs, name->ptr, name->len) != QSE_NULL)
+	pair = qse_htb_search(awk->tree.funs, name->ptr, name->len);
+	if (pair)
 	{
 		/* one of the functions defined previously */
+		if (fun) 
+		{
+			*fun = (qse_awk_fun_t*)QSE_HTB_VPTR(pair);
+			QSE_ASSERT (*fun != QSE_NULL);
+		}
 		return FNTYPE_FUN;
 	}
 
 	/* check if it is a function not resolved so far */
-	if (qse_htb_search(awk->parse.funs, name->ptr, name->len) != QSE_NULL) 
+	if (qse_htb_search(awk->parse.funs, name->ptr, name->len)) 
 	{
 		/* one of the function calls not resolved so far. */ 
 		return FNTYPE_FUN;
@@ -4289,7 +4297,7 @@ static QSE_INLINE int isfnname (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* name)
 		return FNTYPE_FNC;
 	}
 
-	return isfunname(awk, name);
+	return isfunname(awk, name, QSE_NULL);
 }
 
 static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_primary_int  (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_awk_loc_t* xloc)
@@ -4981,7 +4989,7 @@ oops:
 }
 
 #if defined(ENABLE_FEATURE_FUN_AS_VALUE)
-static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_fun_as_value  (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* name, const qse_awk_loc_t* xloc)
+static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_fun_as_value  (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* name, const qse_awk_loc_t* xloc, qse_awk_fun_t* funptr)
 {
 	qse_awk_nde_fun_t* nde;
 
@@ -4997,6 +5005,7 @@ static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_fun_as_value  (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_cstr_t* nam
 	nde->loc = *xloc;
 	nde->name.ptr = name->ptr;
 	nde->name.len = name->len;
+	nde->funptr = funptr;
 
 
 	return (qse_awk_nde_t*)nde;
@@ -5067,8 +5076,9 @@ static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_primary_ident_noseg (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_awk_l
 	else
 	{
 		int fntype;
+		qse_awk_fun_t* funptr = QSE_NULL;
 
-		fntype = isfunname(awk, name);
+		fntype = isfunname(awk, name, &funptr);
 
 		if (fntype)
 		{
@@ -5084,7 +5094,7 @@ static qse_awk_nde_t* parse_primary_ident_noseg (qse_awk_t* awk, const qse_awk_l
 			{
 				/* function name appeared without () */
 			#if defined(ENABLE_FEATURE_FUN_AS_VALUE)
-				nde = parse_fun_as_value(awk, name, xloc);
+				nde = parse_fun_as_value(awk, name, xloc, funptr);
 			#else
 				SETERR_ARG_LOC (awk, QSE_AWK_EFUNRED, name->ptr, name->len, xloc);
 			#endif

qse/lib/awk/run.c

@@ -4188,46 +4188,106 @@ static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_band (
 	return qse_awk_rtx_makeintval (rtx, l1 & l2);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+enum cmp_op_t
+{
+	CMP_OP_EQ = 0,
+	CMP_OP_NE = 1,
+	CMP_OP_GT = 2,
+	CMP_OP_GE = 3,
+	CMP_OP_LT = 4,
+	CMP_OP_LE = 5
+};
+typedef enum cmp_op_t cmp_op_t;
+
+static QSE_INLINE cmp_op_t inverse_cmp_op (cmp_op_t op)
+{
+	static cmp_op_t inverse_cmp_op_tab[] = 
+	{
+		CMP_OP_NE,
+		CMP_OP_EQ,
+		CMP_OP_LT,
+		CMP_OP_LE,
+		CMP_OP_GT,
+		CMP_OP_GE
+	};
+	return inverse_cmp_op_tab[op];
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_ensure_not_equal (cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	/* checking equality is mostly obvious. however, it is not possible
+	 * to test if one is less/greater than the other for some operands.
+	 * this function return a number that ensures to make NE to true and 
+	 * all other operations false */
+
+	switch (op_hint)
+	{
+		case CMP_OP_EQ:
+		case CMP_OP_NE:
+			return 1;  /* not equal */
+
+		case CMP_OP_GT:
+		case CMP_OP_LT:
+			return 0; /* make GT or LT to be false by claiming equal */
+
+		case CMP_OP_GE:
+			return -1; /* make GE false by claiming less */
+		case CMP_OP_LE: 
+			return 1;  /* make LE false by claiming greater */
+	}
+}
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_int_t v = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL (rtx, right);
 	return (v < 0)? 1: ((v > 0)? -1: 0);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	if (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)right)->val < 0) return 1;
 	if (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)right)->val > 0) return -1;
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	return (((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len == 0)? 0: -1;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	return (((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len == 0)? 0: -1;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	/* != -> true, all others -> false */
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_nil_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	return (QSE_HTB_SIZE(((qse_awk_val_map_t*)right)->map) == 0)? 0: -1;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_int_t v = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL(rtx, left);
 	return (v > 0)? 1: ((v < 0)? -1: 0);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 
 	qse_awk_int_t v1 = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL(rtx, left);
@@ -4236,7 +4296,7 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qs
 }
 
 static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_flt (
-	qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+	qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_int_t v1 = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL (rtx, left);
 	if (v1 > ((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)right)->val) return 1;
@@ -4244,9 +4304,10 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_flt (
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	qse_awk_rtx_valtostr_out_t out;
+	qse_char_t* str0;
+	qse_size_t len0;
 	int n;
 
 	/* SCO CC doesn't seem to handle right->nstr > 0 properly */
@@ -4276,40 +4337,76 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qs
 		}
 	}
 
-	out.type = QSE_AWK_RTX_VALTOSTR_CPLDUP;
-	if (qse_awk_rtx_valtostr(rtx, left, &out) <= -1) return CMP_ERROR;
+	str0 = qse_awk_rtx_valtostrdup(rtx, left, &len0);
+	if (!str0) return CMP_ERROR;
 
 	if (rtx->gbl.ignorecase)
 	{
-		n = qse_strxncasecmp(
-			out.u.cpldup.ptr,
-			out.u.cpldup.len,
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, 
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len
-		);
+		n = qse_strxncasecmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		n = qse_strxncmp(
-			out.u.cpldup.ptr,
-			out.u.cpldup.len,
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, 
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len
-		);
+		n = qse_strxncmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len);
 	}
 
-	QSE_AWK_FREE (rtx->awk, out.u.cpldup.ptr);
+	qse_awk_rtx_freemem (rtx, str0);
 	return n;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	/* can't compare an integer with a byte array */
-	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
-	return CMP_ERROR; 
+	qse_mchar_t* str0;
+	qse_size_t len0;
+	int n;
+
+	if (rtx->awk->opt.trait & QSE_AWK_NCMPONSTR || right->nstr /*> 0*/)
+	{
+		qse_awk_int_t ll, v1;
+		qse_awk_flt_t rr;
+
+		n = qse_awk_rtx_mbstonum (
+			rtx,
+			QSE_AWK_RTX_STRTONUM_MAKE_OPTION(1, 0),
+			((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr,
+			((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len, 
+			&ll, &rr
+		);
+
+		v1 = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL(rtx, left);
+		if (n == 0)
+		{
+			/* a numeric integral string */
+			return (v1 > ll)? 1: ((v1 < ll)? -1: 0);
+		}
+		else if (n > 0)
+		{
+			/* a numeric floating-point string */
+			return (v1 > rr)? 1: ((v1 < rr)? -1: 0);
+		}
 	}
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+	str0 = qse_awk_rtx_valtombsdup(rtx, left, &len0);
+	if (!str0) return QSE_NULL;
+
+	if (rtx->gbl.ignorecase)
+	{
+		n = qse_mbsxncasecmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		n = qse_mbsxncmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len);
+	}
+
+	qse_awk_rtx_freemem (rtx, str0);
+	return n;
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	/* compare an integer and the size of a map */
 	qse_awk_int_t v1 = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL(rtx, left);
@@ -4319,14 +4416,16 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_int_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qs
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	if (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val > 0) return 1;
 	if (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val < 0) return -1;
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __cmp_flt_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_int_t v2 = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETINTFROMVAL (rtx, right);
 	if (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val > v2) return 1;
@@ -4334,7 +4433,7 @@ static int __cmp_flt_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __cmp_flt_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	if (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val > 
 	    ((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)right)->val) return 1;
@@ -4343,9 +4442,10 @@ static int __cmp_flt_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __cmp_flt_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	qse_awk_rtx_valtostr_out_t out;
+	qse_char_t* str0;
+	qse_size_t len0;
 	int n;
 
 	/* SCO CC doesn't seem to handle right->nstr > 0 properly */
@@ -4354,54 +4454,71 @@ static int __cmp_flt_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t
 		const qse_char_t* end;
 		qse_awk_flt_t rr;
 
-		rr = qse_awk_strxtoflt (
-			rtx->awk,
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr,
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len, 
-			&end
-		);
-		if (end == ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr + 
-		           ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len)
+		rr = qse_awk_strxtoflt(rtx->awk, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len, &end);
+		if (end == ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr + ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len)
 		{
 			return (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val > rr)? 1:
 			       (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val < rr)? -1: 0;
 		}
 	}
 
-	out.type = QSE_AWK_RTX_VALTOSTR_CPLDUP;
-	if (qse_awk_rtx_valtostr(rtx, left, &out) <= -1) return CMP_ERROR;
+	str0 = qse_awk_rtx_valtostrdup(rtx, left, &len0);
+	if (!str0) return CMP_ERROR;
 
 	if (rtx->gbl.ignorecase)
 	{
-		n = qse_strxncasecmp (
-			out.u.cpldup.ptr,
-			out.u.cpldup.len,
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, 
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len
-		);
+		n = qse_strxncasecmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		n = qse_strxncmp (
-			out.u.cpldup.ptr,
-			out.u.cpldup.len,
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, 
-			((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len
-		);
+		n = qse_strxncmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_str_t*)right)->val.len);
 	}
 
-	QSE_AWK_FREE (rtx->awk, out.u.cpldup.ptr);
+	qse_awk_rtx_freemem (rtx, str0);
 	return n;
 }
 
-static int __cmp_flt_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	/* can't compare a float with a byte array */
-	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
-	return CMP_ERROR; 
+	qse_mchar_t* str0;
+	qse_size_t len0;
+	int n;
+
+	if (rtx->awk->opt.trait & QSE_AWK_NCMPONSTR || right->nstr /*> 0*/)
+	{
+		const qse_mchar_t* end;
+		qse_awk_flt_t rr;
+
+		rr = qse_awk_mbsxtoflt(rtx->awk, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len, &end);
+		if (end == ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr + ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len)
+		{
+			return (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val > rr)? 1:
+			       (((qse_awk_val_flt_t*)left)->val < rr)? -1: 0;
+		}
 	}
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+	str0 = qse_awk_rtx_valtombsdup(rtx, left, &len0);
+	if (!str0) return CMP_ERROR;
+
+	if (rtx->gbl.ignorecase)
+	{
+		n = qse_mbsxncasecmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		n = qse_mbsxncmp(str0, len0, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len);
+	}
+
+	qse_awk_rtx_freemem (rtx, str0);
+	return n;
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	/* compare a float with the size of a map */
 	qse_awk_int_t v2 = QSE_HTB_SIZE(((qse_awk_val_map_t*)right)->map);
@@ -4410,22 +4527,30 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_flt_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qs
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	return (((qse_awk_val_str_t*)left)->val.len == 0)? 0: 1;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_int_str(rtx, right, left);
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_int_str(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_flt_str (rtx, right, left);
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_flt_str(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_val_str_t* ls, * rs;
 
@@ -4498,7 +4623,7 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qs
 	}
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_val_str_t* ls = (qse_awk_val_str_t*)left;
 	qse_awk_val_mbs_t* rs = (qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right;
@@ -4526,34 +4651,48 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left
 #endif
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	/* can't compare a map with a string */
-	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
-	return CMP_ERROR; 
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_str_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	return (((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)left)->val.len == 0)? 0: 1;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_int_bytearr(rtx, right, left);
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_int_mbs(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_flt_bytearr(rtx, right, left);
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_flt_mbs(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_str_bytearr(rtx, right, left);
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_str_mbs(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_val_mbs_t* ls = (qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)left;
 	qse_awk_val_mbs_t* rs = (qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right;
@@ -4563,66 +4702,119 @@ static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t*
 	return qse_mbsxncmp(ls->val.ptr, ls->val.len, rs->val.ptr, rs->val.len);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_bytearr_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	/* can't compare a byte array with a map */
-	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
-	return CMP_ERROR; 
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_mbs_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_nil_map (rtx, right, left);
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_int_map (rtx, right, left);
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	return -__cmp_flt_map (rtx, right, left);
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	/* can't compare a map with a string */
-	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
-	return CMP_ERROR; 
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_bytearr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
-	/* can't compare a map with a byte array */
-	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
-	return CMP_ERROR; 
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
 }
 
-static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return (((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)left)->fun == ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)right)->fun)? 0: __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_fun_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_nil (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_nil_map(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_int (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_int_map(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_flt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	int n;
+	n = __cmp_flt_map(rtx, right, left, inverse_cmp_op(op_hint));
+	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return CMP_ERROR;
+	return -n;
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_str (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_mbs (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
+{
+	return __cmp_ensure_not_equal(op_hint);
+}
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_map_map (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	/* can't compare a map with a map */
 	SETERR_COD (rtx, QSE_AWK_EOPERAND);
 	return CMP_ERROR; 
 }
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-static int __cmp_val(
-	qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
+
+static QSE_INLINE int __cmp_val(qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right, cmp_op_t op_hint)
 {
 	qse_awk_val_type_t lvtype, rvtype;
-	typedef int (*cmp_val_t) (qse_awk_rtx_t*, qse_awk_val_t*, qse_awk_val_t*);
+	typedef int (*cmp_val_t) (qse_awk_rtx_t*, qse_awk_val_t*, qse_awk_val_t*, cmp_op_t op_hint);
 
 	static cmp_val_t func[] =
 	{
 		/* this table must be synchronized with 
 		 * the QSE_AWK_VAL_XXX values in awk.h */
-		__cmp_nil_nil,      __cmp_nil_int,      __cmp_nil_flt,      __cmp_nil_str,      __cmp_nil_bytearr,     __cmp_nil_map,
-		__cmp_int_nil,      __cmp_int_int,      __cmp_int_flt,      __cmp_int_str,      __cmp_int_bytearr,     __cmp_int_map,
-		__cmp_flt_nil,      __cmp_flt_int,      __cmp_flt_flt,      __cmp_flt_str,      __cmp_flt_bytearr,     __cmp_flt_map,
-		__cmp_str_nil,      __cmp_str_int,      __cmp_str_flt,      __cmp_str_str,      __cmp_str_bytearr,     __cmp_str_map,
-		__cmp_bytearr_nil,  __cmp_bytearr_int,  __cmp_bytearr_flt,  __cmp_bytearr_str,  __cmp_bytearr_bytearr, __cmp_bytearr_map,
-		__cmp_map_nil,      __cmp_map_int,      __cmp_map_flt,      __cmp_map_str,      __cmp_map_bytearr,     __cmp_map_map
+		__cmp_nil_nil, __cmp_nil_int, __cmp_nil_flt, __cmp_nil_str, __cmp_nil_mbs, __cmp_nil_fun, __cmp_nil_map,  
+		__cmp_int_nil, __cmp_int_int, __cmp_int_flt, __cmp_int_str, __cmp_int_mbs, __cmp_int_fun, __cmp_int_map,
+		__cmp_flt_nil, __cmp_flt_int, __cmp_flt_flt, __cmp_flt_str, __cmp_flt_mbs, __cmp_flt_fun, __cmp_flt_map,
+		__cmp_str_nil, __cmp_str_int, __cmp_str_flt, __cmp_str_str, __cmp_str_mbs, __cmp_str_fun, __cmp_str_map,
+		__cmp_mbs_nil, __cmp_mbs_int, __cmp_mbs_flt, __cmp_mbs_str, __cmp_mbs_mbs, __cmp_mbs_fun, __cmp_mbs_map,
+		__cmp_fun_nil, __cmp_fun_int, __cmp_fun_flt, __cmp_fun_str, __cmp_fun_mbs, __cmp_fun_fun, __cmp_fun_map,
+		__cmp_map_nil, __cmp_map_int, __cmp_map_flt, __cmp_map_str, __cmp_map_mbs, __cmp_map_fun, __cmp_map_map
 	};
 
 	lvtype = QSE_AWK_RTX_GETVALTYPE(rtx, left);
@@ -4644,9 +4836,15 @@ static int __cmp_val(
 	 *  QSE_AWK_VAL_FLT  = 2
 	 *  QSE_AWK_VAL_STR  = 3
 	 *  QSE_AWK_VAL_MBS  = 4
-	 * QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP  = 5
+	 *  QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN  = 5
+	 *  QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP  = 6
+	 * 
+	 * op_hint indicate the operation in progress when this function is called.
+	 * this hint doesn't require the comparison function to compare using this
+	 * operation. the comparision function should return 0 if equal, -1 if less,
+	 * 1 if greater, CMP_ERROR upon error regardless of this hint.
 	 */
-	return func[lvtype * 6 + rvtype](rtx, left, right);
+	return func[lvtype * 7 + rvtype](rtx, left, right, op_hint);
 }
 
 static int teq_val (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
@@ -4693,6 +4891,10 @@ static int teq_val (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* righ
 						((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)right)->val.len) == 0;
 					break;
 
+				case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
+					n = ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)left)->fun == ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)right)->fun;
+					break;
+
 				default:
 					/* map-x and map-y are always different regardless of
 					 * their contents. however, if they are pointing to the
@@ -4719,42 +4921,42 @@ static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_tne (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, q
 
 static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_eq (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
 {
-	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right);
+	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right, CMP_OP_EQ);
 	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return QSE_NULL;
 	return (n == 0)? QSE_AWK_VAL_ONE: QSE_AWK_VAL_ZERO;
 }
 
 static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_ne (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
 {
-	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right);
+	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right, CMP_OP_NE);
 	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return QSE_NULL;
 	return (n != 0)? QSE_AWK_VAL_ONE: QSE_AWK_VAL_ZERO;
 }
 
 static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_gt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
 {
-	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right);
+	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right, CMP_OP_GT);
 	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return QSE_NULL;
 	return (n > 0)? QSE_AWK_VAL_ONE: QSE_AWK_VAL_ZERO;
 }
 
 static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_ge (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
 {
-	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right);
+	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right, CMP_OP_GE);
 	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return QSE_NULL;
 	return (n >= 0)? QSE_AWK_VAL_ONE: QSE_AWK_VAL_ZERO;
 }
 
 static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_lt (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
 {
-	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right);
+	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right, CMP_OP_LT);
 	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return QSE_NULL;
 	return (n < 0)? QSE_AWK_VAL_ONE: QSE_AWK_VAL_ZERO;
 }
 
 static qse_awk_val_t* eval_binop_le (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* left, qse_awk_val_t* right)
 {
-	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right);
+	int n = __cmp_val(rtx, left, right, CMP_OP_LE);
 	if (n == CMP_ERROR) return QSE_NULL;
 	return (n <= 0)? QSE_AWK_VAL_ONE: QSE_AWK_VAL_ZERO;
 }
@@ -6267,11 +6469,13 @@ static qse_awk_val_t* eval_fun (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
 	qse_awk_val_t* val;
 	qse_awk_fun_t* fun;
-	qse_htb_pair_t* pair;
 	
-	fun = ((qse_awk_nde_fun_t*)nde)->ptr;
+
+	fun = ((qse_awk_nde_fun_t*)nde)->funptr;
 	if (!fun)
 	{
+		qse_htb_pair_t* pair;
+
 		/* TODO: support bultin functions?, support module functions? */
 		pair = qse_htb_search(rtx->awk->tree.funs, ((qse_awk_nde_fun_t*)nde)->name.ptr, ((qse_awk_nde_fun_t*)nde)->name.len);
 		if (!pair)

qse/lib/awk/tree.h

@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ struct qse_awk_nde_fun_t
 {
 	QSE_AWK_NDE_HDR;
 	qse_cstr_t name; /* function name */
-	qse_awk_fun_t* ptr; /* QSE_NULL or actual pointer */
+	qse_awk_fun_t* funptr; /* QSE_NULL or actual pointer */
 };
 
 /* QSE_AWK_NDE_NAMED, QSE_AWK_NDE_GBL, 

qse/lib/awk/val.c

@@ -759,10 +759,10 @@ const qse_char_t* qse_awk_rtx_getvaltypename(qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t*
 		QSE_T("flt"),
 		QSE_T("str"),
 		QSE_T("mbs"),
+		QSE_T("fun"),
 		QSE_T("map"),
 		QSE_T("rex"),
-		QSE_T("ref"),
-		QSE_T("fun")
+		QSE_T("ref")
 	};
 
 	return __val_type_name[QSE_AWK_RTX_GETVALTYPE(rtx, val)];
@@ -854,6 +854,10 @@ void qse_awk_rtx_freeval (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* val, int cache)
 				break;
 			}
 
+			case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
+				QSE_AWK_FREE (rtx->awk, val);
+				break;
+
 			case QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP:
 			{
 				qse_htb_fini (((qse_awk_val_map_t*)val)->map);
@@ -871,10 +875,6 @@ void qse_awk_rtx_freeval (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, qse_awk_val_t* val, int cache)
 				break;
 			}
 
-			case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
-				QSE_AWK_FREE (rtx->awk, val);
-				break;
-
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -1007,14 +1007,14 @@ int qse_awk_rtx_valtobool (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_val_t* val)
 			return ((qse_awk_val_mbs_t*)val)->val.len > 0;
 		case QSE_AWK_VAL_REX: /* TODO: is this correct? */
 			return ((qse_awk_val_rex_t*)val)->str.len > 0;
+		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
+			/* return always true */
+			return 1;
 		case QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP:
 			/* true if the map size is greater than 0. false if not */
 			return QSE_HTB_SIZE(((qse_awk_val_map_t*)val)->map) > 0;
 		case QSE_AWK_VAL_REF:
 			return val_ref_to_bool (rtx, (qse_awk_val_ref_t*)val);
-		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
-			/* return always true */
-			return 1;
 	}
 
 	QSE_ASSERTX (
@@ -1506,6 +1506,11 @@ int qse_awk_rtx_valtostr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_val_t* v, qse_awk_rt
 		#endif
 		}
 
+		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
+		{
+			return str_to_str(rtx, ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)v)->fun->name.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)v)->fun->name.len, out);
+		}
+
 		case QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP:
 		{
 			if (rtx->awk->opt.trait & QSE_AWK_FLEXMAP)
@@ -1519,11 +1524,6 @@ int qse_awk_rtx_valtostr (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_val_t* v, qse_awk_rt
 		{
 			return val_ref_to_str(rtx, (qse_awk_val_ref_t*)v, out);
 		}
-
-		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
-		{
-			return str_to_str(rtx, ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)v)->fun->name.ptr, ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)v)->fun->name.len, out);
-		}
 	}
 
 
@@ -1809,6 +1809,12 @@ int qse_awk_rtx_valtonum (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_val_t* v, qse_awk_in
 			);
 		}
 
+		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
+		{
+			/* unable to convert a function to a number */
+			break;
+		}
+
 		case QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP:
 		{
 			if (rtx->awk->opt.trait & QSE_AWK_FLEXMAP)
@@ -1823,12 +1829,6 @@ int qse_awk_rtx_valtonum (qse_awk_rtx_t* rtx, const qse_awk_val_t* v, qse_awk_in
 		{
 			return val_ref_to_num(rtx, (qse_awk_val_ref_t*)v, l, r);
 		}
-
-		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
-		{
-			/* unable to convert a function to a number */
-			break;
-		}
 	}
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_VAL
@@ -2153,6 +2153,10 @@ void qse_awk_dprintval (qse_awk_rtx_t* run, qse_awk_val_t* val)
 			qse_errputstrf (QSE_T("/%s/"), ((qse_awk_val_rex_t*)val)->ptr);
 			break;
 
+		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
+			qse_errputstrf (QSE_T("%.*s"), (int)((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)val)->fun->name.len, ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)val)->fun->name.ptr);
+			break;
+
 		case QSE_AWK_VAL_MAP:
 			qse_errputstrf (QSE_T("MAP["));
 			qse_htb_walk (((qse_awk_val_map_t*)val)->map, print_pair, run);
@@ -2165,10 +2169,6 @@ void qse_awk_dprintval (qse_awk_rtx_t* run, qse_awk_val_t* val)
 			qse_errputstrf (QSE_T("]"));
 			break;
 
-		case QSE_AWK_VAL_FUN:
-			qse_errputstrf (QSE_T("%.*s"), (int)((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)val)->fun->name.len, ((qse_awk_val_fun_t*)val)->fun->name.ptr);
-			break;
-
 		default:
 			qse_errputstrf (QSE_T("**** INTERNAL ERROR - INVALID VALUE TYPE ****\n"));
 	}