+ } elsif ($o =~ s/^_[Tt]ie\=//) {
+ $o =~ m/^($cands_re)([<>])($cands_re)$/
+ or badinput "bad value \`$_' for tie option";
+ my ($l,$op,$r) = ($1,$2,$3);
+ ($l,$op,$r) = ($r,'>',$l) if $op eq '<';
+ $candref{$_} = "tie break spec" foreach $o =~ m/\w+/g;
+ $l = join ',', sort split /\,/, $l;
+ $r = join ',', sort split /\,/, $r;
+ $l =~ m/\b$_\b/ and badinput "reflexive tie"
+ foreach split /\,/, $r;
+ push @o, "$l$op$r";