The EXACT modifier is used with the LEVENSHTEIN routine to specify the number of exact characters to match at the beginning or the end of the string. If the strings do not satisfy the condition set by the modifier, Nomatch (2) is returned.
Syntax
EXACT (m,n)
where
- m is the number of exact characters to match at the beginning of the string. Default is 0.
- n is the number of exact characters to match at the end of the string. Default is 0.
Example 1
EXACT(1,2)
String 1 - ISABELLA
String 2 - ISAVELLA
The score is 99 -1= 98 because these strings satisfy the condition of EXACT(1,2) and the distance is 1 as one substitution ('V' for 'B') is required.
Example 2
EXACT(1,1)
String 1 - THAT
String 2 - PATH
The Nomatch score (2) is returned as these strings do not satisfy the condition of EXACT(1,1).