public int compare(Object a, Object b){ char[] c1 = a.toString().toCharArray(); char[] c2 = b.toString().toCharArray(); if(a.toString().equals(b.toString())) return 0; int length; if(c1.length > c2.length){ length = c2.length; }else{ length = c1.length; } System.out.println(new String(c1)); System.out.println(new String(c2)); for(int i = (c1.length - 1), j = (c2.length -1); length >= 0; i--, j--, length--){ if(c1[i] > c2[j]){ return 1; } if(c1[i] < c2[j]){ return -1; } } return 0; }