Patent ID: 7810073

Claim:
A computer implemented method for executing a translate instruction, the method comprising: performing for successive argument characters of a predetermined number of argument characters: retrieving an argument character; identifying a function character that corresponds to the argument character, the identifying performed using a translation table; and responsive to a test character comparison control field indicating that a test character comparison is to be performed: comparing the identified function character to a test character; halting execution of the translate instruction in response to the function character being equal to the test character; and placing the identified function character into a first operand in response to the function character not being equal to the test character; and responsive to the test character comparison control field indicating that the test character comparison is not to be performed: placing the identified function character into the first operand without comparing the function character to a test character; and halting execution of the translate instruction responsive to said performing for each successive argument character of the predetermined number of argument characters; wherein the halting execution of the translate instruction comprises generating a condition code that indicates whether one of the function characters was equal to the test character, the generating in response to the test character comparison control field indicating that a test character comparison is to be performed.