how do I use the return of (-1)

[mike holeton]

example code

char CompareName( char *OtherName )
{
char i;

for (i = 0; (i<J1939_DATA_LENGTH) && (OtherName[i] == CA_Name[i]); i++);

if (i == J1939_DATA_LENGTH)
return 0;
else if (CA_Name[i] < OtherName[i] )
return -1; //how do I do this?
else
return 1;

[Ttelmah]

Key thing. A value has to be 'signed', to return a negative number. As written, a program at the other 'end', will 'see' 255'. A 'char' (and an integer), in CCS C, default to unsigned data types.
Basically, '-1', is coded in binary, as '11111111'. A character is an unsigned value, so the subroutine will return 255 (which is what the same binary value gives when treated as an unsigned number).
If you want to return a -1 'error' status, you have to change the declaration of the function, to:
signed char CompareName( char *OtherName )

Remember though that with a 'signed' declaration, the maximum value that can be returned, drops to 127.

Best Wishes

[Paolino]

I have understood this: the statment