throws Throwable
  public static int strncasecmp(String a, String b, int length)    throws Throwable  {    int aLen = a.length();    int bLen = b.length();    for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {      if (aLen <= i)	return -1;      else if (bLen <= i)	return 1;      char aChar = Character.toUpperCase(a.charAt(i));      char bChar = Character.toUpperCase(b.charAt(i));      if (aChar < bChar)	return -1;      else if (bChar < aChar)	return 1;    }    return 0;  }