string compares with 'wildcards' in rpgiv

["Richard B Baird" <rbaird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

hey all,

i've searched the archives to no avail, and started to write this myself,
but i'm struggling and it's starting to get out of hand...  does anyone
have something similar to this in their toolbox, or know of an existing api
or c routine to do this?

i need an elegant way of comparing one string that could have a wild card
or two, to another string.

for instance  the first string could have:
1.  *Monthly  or
2.   Monthly* or
3.  *Monthly*

and compared to the following fields:

a.  Bi-Monthly
b.  Bi-Monthly 1st Quarter
c.  Monthly Reports

compares would result in:

1. would match a. only
2. would match c. only
3. would match a, b and c.

btw, if you haven't done it already, don't write it for me....

tia,

rick