What's the size of -9(4).999

markanthos · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 14 Location: India

At an HSBC interview I came across the query:

A pic clause is declared as -9(4).999

How many memory locations will this occupy

a)7
b)8
c)9
d)none of the above
and why?

gnagakishore · New User Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 25 Location: Hyderabad

it will occupy 8(eight) bytes.
the reason for that is we have to count "." (dot) aslo.
and comming to "-" it wont occupy any memory unless if we stated "sign traling or leading separate character".[/b]

markanthos · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 14 Location: India

Thanks a lot

Deepa.m · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 99

since it is numeric edited character it will occupy 9 bytes..it will take one byte for '-' sign also.

please advice.

Thanks
Deepa

avalanches · New User Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 28

Deepa,

The sign will occupy the lower nibble of the right most digit.

Cheers,
avalanches

David P · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 2:44 pm

Hi Markanthos,
I agree with deepa that the variable is going to take 9 bytes as storage.

An easy way to find out the lenght of any variable is to have a member (say test) in your copylib pds. Then define that variable whose length you want to find out in this member test. Now save this member and open it in fileaid (option F:8 or H:8 as per your installation). If the definition is syntactically correct you will get the lenght.

Let me know if you have any concerns.
David.

kanak · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 252 Location: India

even i aslo agree with deepa...i think it will take 9 bytes as it is just a simple declaration...not defined as s9(4).999, in this case it will take i think 8, but when you specify -9(4).999 then it will take 9.

praveenhj · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 6 Location: bangalore

hi, i agree with this it will take 9 bytes, not 8 bytes b'coz it id not declared with s9(4).999.

mmwife · Super Moderator Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 1592

In this case the sign is called a floating edit char and occupies one byte of storage.

priya · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 9:26 pm

So if I colored the reply in RED, it contains error. GREEN means, it is accepted by the moderator. Any Suggestions?