what is the need of Comp-3 in cobol

Muthukumar.PLindia · New User Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Chennai

HI,
Comp variables use less storage compared to COMP-3
as well as processing comp variables will be faster than comp-3(i guess)
then what might be the reason that comp-3 came into existence.....

Is comp-3 originated before comp..

UmeySan · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:18 pm

Hi !

Different amounts of money can be stored positive or negative.
Therefor they are declared as comp-3 because of the leading sign.

Comp variables don't have that sign included.

Regars, UmeySan

prashanth1 · New User Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 47 Location: Hyderabad

I think , your assumptions are wrong.

COMP
1-4 Digits occupies 2 bytes of memory (half-word)
5-9 Digits occupies 4 bytes of memory (full-word)
10-18 Digits occupies 8 bytes of memory(double-word)

COMP-3

9 digits will be stored in 5 bytes (n/2+1)

18 digits will be stored in 10 bytes

Means that , all these should be depend on their boundaries.

Pls correct Me, If I wrng