VMS Help NCS Routines, NCS$COMPARE, Returns  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    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.