--- deliantra/server/include/shstr.h	2007/04/23 16:07:00	1.14
+++ deliantra/server/include/shstr.h	2007/05/14 21:52:32	1.15
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@
     return length (s);
   }
 
+  // returns wether this shared string begins with the given prefix,
+  // used mainly for searched when users give only the start of a name.
+  bool begins_with (const char *prefix) const
+  {
+    int plen = strlen (prefix);
+    return !strncasecmp (s, prefix, plen) && length () >= plen;
+  }
+
   static const char *find (const char *s);
   static const char *intern (const char *s);