

function [match,success,errormessage] = compareorderedsets(set1,set2,cardinality)

errormessage = '';
success = 1;
match = 0;

if nargin<3
    cardinality = 6;
end




% check to see if sets are same type
if strcmp(class(set1),class(set2))
    % check whether dealing with strings, cell arrays of chars or arrays of ints
    if ischar(set1)

        % compare strings
        if strcmp(set1,set2)
            match = 1;
        else
            match = 0;
        end
    end
    
    if iscell(set1)
        % compare cell arrays of characters

        % fill blank spaces so that cardinalities match
        while length(set1)<cardinality
            set1 = [set1, '-'];
        end    

        while length(set2)<cardinality
            set2 = [set2, '-'];
        end    

        for i = 1:cardinality

            if strcmp(set1{i},set2{i})
                match = 1;
            else
                match = 0;
                break;
            end 
        end
    end
    
	if isnumeric(set1) && isnumeric(set2)
        % compare integers

            % fill blank spaces so that cardinalities match
        while length(set1)<cardinality
            set1 = [set1,-1];
        end    

        while length(set2)<cardinality
            set2 = [set2,-1];
        end    

        for i = 1:cardinality

            if set1(i)==set2(i)
                match = 1;
            else
                match = 0;
                break;
            end 
        end
    end
else
    % trying to compare mixed data types   
    errormessage = 'Error in compareorderedsets: trying to compare mixed data types';
    success= 0;   
end