def trans(the_state, val)
      if (the_state <=> val) > 0
        return the_state, :ignore
      elsif the_state == val
        return the_state, :keep
      else
        return val, :replace
      end
    end
def trans(the_state, val)
      if (the_state <=> val) > 0
        return the_state, :ignore
      elsif the_state == val
        return the_state, :keep
      else
        return val, :replace
      end
    end
:nodoc: all