using astrix(*) in str only text

[lXlXlXlXlXlXl]

str left=("*has left the Conference. ") ;; im trying to use the * here because the name changes everyperson that leaves but im not sure how to do it
str s sp diff
str sp.getwintext(child("" "Internet Explorer_Server" win("Conference:*" "YSearchMenuWndClass" "" 0x1) 0x1))
act id(225 win("Freind*" "YSearchMenuWndClass" "" 0x1))
_s=sp; _s.setwintext(id(225 win("Friend*" "YSearchMenuWndClass" "" 0x1)))
0.001
key Y
rep
,0.001
,s.getwintext(child("" "Internet Explorer_Server" win("Conference:*" "YSearchMenuWndClass" "" 0x1) 0x1))
,if(s.len>sp.len) diff.get(s sp.len)
,,if left=diff
,,,act id(225 win("Freind*" "YSearchMenuWndClass" "" 0x1))
,,,_s=diff; _s.setwintext(id(225 win("Freind*" "YSearchMenuWndClass" "" 0x1)))
,,,key X
,,,0.001
,,,key Y
,,else diff=""
,,,sp=s
,,,1