@@ -803,10 +803,16 @@
     (8 "DEAD")
     (9 "FAIL")
     (10 "PREQ_FAIL")
     (11 "PREQ_DISCARDED")
     (12 "ABORT")))
+
+(define (common:status>? s1 s2)
+  (let* ((munged (map (lambda (x) `(,(cadr x) . ,(car x))) *common:std-statuses*))
+	 (v1     (alist-ref s1 munged equal?))
+	 (v2     (alist-ref s2 munged equal?)))
+    (> v1 v2)))
 
 (define *common:ended-states*       ;; states which indicate the test is stopped and will not proceed
   '("COMPLETED" "ARCHIVED" "KILLED" "KILLREQ" "STUCK" "INCOMPLETE" ))
 
 (define *common:badly-ended-states* ;; these roll up as CHECK, i.e. results need to be checked