static public int compareWildcardString(String a,String b) {
        if(a==null && b==null) 
            return 0;
        //else
        if(a==null)
            return -1;
        //else
        if(b==null)
            return 1;
        
        int wca=a.indexOf("*");
        int wcb=b.indexOf("*");
        if(wcb>=0) {
            b = b.substring(0,wcb); // remove * and trailing chars
            if(a.length()>wcb)
                a = a.substring(0,wcb);
        }
        if(wca>=0) {
            a = a.substring(0,wca); // remove * and trailing chars
            if(b.length()>wca)
                b = b.substring(0,wca);
        }
        return a.compareToIgnoreCase(b);
        //return a.compareTo(b);
    }