* @param combiner the combiner, either &,|,&lt;,or &gt;.
	 * @param buf the stringbuffer to search for, which is always cleared
	 * @param lastIndex the previously found index
	 * @return the result of the search
	 */
	private static int stringContains(final Vector<String> V, final char combiner, final StringBuffer buf, int lastIndex)
	{
		final String str=buf.toString().trim();
		if(str.length()==0) 
			return lastIndex;
		buf.setLength(0);
		switch (combiner)
		{
		case '&':
			lastIndex = strIndex(V, str, 0);
			return lastIndex;
		case '|':
			if (lastIndex >= 0)
				return lastIndex;
			return strIndex(V, str, 0);
		case '>':
			if (lastIndex < 0)
				return lastIndex;
			return strIndex(V, str, lastIndex + 1);
		case '<':
		{
			if (lastIndex < 0)
				return lastIndex;
			final int newIndex = strIndex(V, str, 0);
			if (newIndex < lastIndex)
				return newIndex;
			return -1;
		}
		}
		return -1;
	}