COBOL data formatting using PIC clause

simimathew · New User Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 23 Location: London

Can somebody please tell me the difference between the following data declarations?

1. 03 ZB-COMMA-SI-LIMITS PIC -(3)9.99.
2. 03 ZB-COMMA-SI-LIMITS PIC Z(3)9.99.

What will happen if a decimal number, 0017.45, is moved to the field ZB-COMMA-SI-LIMITS in both cases? As per my understanding both will suppress the preceeding zeros (if the declaration had been 9(4).99, there would have been preceeding zeros) and replace them with spaces.

Please let me know the difference, if any.

Also is a declaration

03 ZB-COMMA-SI-LIMITS PIC Z,ZZZ,ZZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99.

valid????

Many Thanks,
Simi

DavidatK · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 10:20 pm

simimathew · New User Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 23 Location: London

Thanks, Dave.

But I have one more clarification to make regarding the formatting.

If a field is declared as

03 DL6140-DAYS-OS PIC -(5)9.

What will be the output when u move a negative number -12345 to thsi field? Actually my question is, are we using this PIC clause to show the -ve sign as well. So in that case will PIC-(5)9 and PIC Z(5)9 be the same?

Please help me out.

Thanks in advance,
Simi

DavidatK · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 7:41 pm

Simi,

In this case you will get different results.

The PIC -(5)9 will result in "-12345"
and the PIC Z(5)9 will result in " 12345"

Both of these reserve 6 bytes, the -(5)9 is signed and will place a "-" as the leading byte if the value is negative. The Z(5)9 is unsigned and no sign, +/- will appear.

If you were to move a -123456 to both of these fields, the Z(5)9 will result in "123456" where the -(5)9 will truncate the Most Significant Byte and result in "-23456"

Dave

simimathew · New User Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 23 Location: London

Thanks Dave.