comp-3 variable , when initialized , dump shows null char !!

sunny_io · New User Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 68 Location: noida

Hi All.

I used initialize statement on a comp-3 varaible and a numeric variable.

In the ebcdic hexx dump..

I got '00' in comp-3 and 'f0' in numeric varaible.
'00' is equivalent of NULL and 'f0' is equivalent of zero.

Can someone pls throw more light on the difference in outputs here ?

dick scherrer · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:40 am

Hello,

A comp-3 variable is a numeric variable. . .

x'00' is not the same as null. . . It is the same as low-values.

The comp-3 field is most likely not only x'00' - it is most likely x'00000C' (or whatever the length should be).

x'F0' is the value of a zoned-decimal zero.

You need to spend some time in the documentation and learn about the various numeric data used in COBOL.

There is a link to "IBM Manuals" at the top of the page - you need to read the Language Reference for your release of COBOL.

sunny_io · New User Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 68 Location: noida

Thanks for your time Dick.
Will go thru the manual info as suggested.. , Thanks

dick scherrer · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:49 am

You're welcome

If you find something in the manual that is not clear, post what you found and your doubt. Someone will be able to clarify.

d