Re: [GNU-COBOL] edit program qs? (was PIC)

[Davyd Ondrejko <david.ondrejko@safelite.com>]

> > > though some are tediously detailed.  The most tedious of all is
> > > PICTURE.
> >
> > I would agree.
> 
> Why? dataname, format
> picture is the keyword that attaches that format to dataname
> description of format:
> A    alphabetic
> X    alphanumeric
> 9    numeric
> B    blank leading zeroes
> $    float dollar sign
> *    fill leading spaces with asterisks
> V    places decimal point
> ,    formats comma (like dec pt. CAN be placed anywhere even wrong)

Also,

S - sign, used differently in DISPLAY, COMP or COMP-3
P - assumed decimal point
/ - slash, but only in numeric-edited fields
0 - zero
. - decimal point (numeric-edited equivalent of V)
- - fixed or floating minus sign
+ - fixed or floating plus sign
CR - credit symbol
DB - debit symbol
Z - zero suppression with blank space replacement

Errors in what you said:

$ - can be fixed or floating
* - does not replace leading spaces with asterisks, replaces leading
zeroes with asterisks.  Since it is used for numeric edited fields,
spaces are not legal values.

It's a little more complicated than what you think.

-- 
David R. Ondrejko - EDI/Referral - Safelite Glass Co.
 Mathematician by training - Programmer by trade - Philosopher by nature
 Genius by genetics - Atheist by conviction - Hedonist by desire!

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