Returns

   OpenVMS usage:integer
   type:         longword integer (signed)
   access:       write only
   mechanism:    by value

   Longword condition value. Most routines return a condition value
   in R0, but the NCS$COMPARE routine uses R0 to return the result
   of the comparison, as shown in the following table:

   Returned
   Value         Comparison Result

   -1            string_1 is less than string_2
   0             string_1 is equal to string_2
   1             string_1 is greater than string_2

   The NCS$COMPARE routine uses the Signaling Mechanism to indicate
   completion status as described under Condition Value Signaled.