Calculate version number for comparison?

[Tom]

I have two version numbers - one for my application and another from a
manifest, database, whatever - that isn't important. Now that I have these
two version numbers (in the form major.minor.bui ld.revision) I want to
compare one to see if it is less than the other.

Is there any calculation I can do to convert a version number to a 'real'
number so that I can compare it easily? I've fiddled around with various
methods but nothing works for everything. I have tried to compare the
individual elements one at a time, but there are so many deviations that it
again doesn't work for everything (i.e. 1.9.9.0 is higher than 1.9.8.920).

There seems like there should be some mathematical way to convert this to
some kind of number so my code could simply say something like "if
current_convert ed_version < new_converted_v ersion then ...'.

Anyone good mathematicians out there?? :-)

Tom

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Tom,
If you have two System.Version objects, you can simply use Version.Compare To
& Version.Equals to compare two versions in VB.NET. If you are using C# then
you can use the overloaded operators to compare Versions.

Dim v1, v2 As System.Version
If v1.CompareTo(v2 ) < 0 Then
' v1 is less then v2
End If
System.Version v1, v2;
if (v1 < v2)
{
// v1 is less then v2
}

Note in VS.NET 2005 (Whidbey, due out in 2005) the overloaded comparison
operators can be used.

Note there are constructors on System.Version that accepts a string in
major.minor.bui ld.revision format or as 1 to 4 integers.

Be certain to read the help on Version.Compare To method for some important
tips.

Hope this helps
Jay

"Tom" <to*@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..

I have two version numbers - one for my application and another from a
manifest, database, whatever - that isn't important. Now that I have these two version numbers (in the form major.minor.bui ld.revision) I want to
compare one to see if it is less than the other.

Is there any calculation I can do to convert a version number to a 'real'
number so that I can compare it easily? I've fiddled around with various
methods but nothing works for everything. I have tried to compare the
individual elements one at a time, but there are so many deviations that it again doesn't work for everything (i.e. 1.9.9.0 is higher than 1.9.8.920).

There seems like there should be some mathematical way to convert this to
some kind of number so my code could simply say something like "if
current_convert ed_version < new_converted_v ersion then ...'.

Anyone good mathematicians out there?? :-)

Tom