[Jprogramming] Comparing non scalar data.

[Don Guinn]

Not true that <, > etc. only work with scalars.

   1 2 3>2
0 0 1

They are scalar in the sense that the comparison is atom by atom.  Their 
rank is 0 0 0.  Look at rank in help.

Mikl Kurkov wrote:

> Hi All!
> I'm working on my first program in J so I have some questions.
>
> I wonder what is perferable method to compare vectors?
> As I understand comparing functions like > <
> are working only with scalars. Also for  >. <. .
> But sorting eats all other data. So one of my desisions was:
>
> max  =: {: @: /:~ : ({: @: /:~ @: ([ ,: ])) " _
> min  =: {. @: /:~ : ({. @: /:~ @: ([ ,: ])) " _
>
> less =:  ( ([ -: min) *. (-. at -:)) " _
> more =:  ( ([ -: max) *. (-. at -:)) " _
>
> It works but I think it dumb.
> Another aproach I see is to convert all data to numbers and compare them.
> But I don't like it too.
>
> Isn't it possible to use the same comparing routines that sorting does?
>