stock alt_strcmp(const string1[], const string2[], bool:ignorecase=false, length=cellmax)
{
    if (length == 0) {
        return 0;
    }

    if (string1[0])
    {
        if (string2[0]) {
            return clamp(strcmp(string1, string2, ignorecase, length), -1, 1);
        }
        else {
            return 1;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        if (string2[0]) {
            return -1;
        }
        else {
            return 0;
        }
    }
}

#define _ALS_strcmp
#define strcmp( alt_strcmp(