COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.03+)

Language Elements
HP COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs—520347-003
3-22
PICTURE Character-Strings
PICTURE Character-Strings
PICTURE character-strings (character-strings in the PICTURE clause) use the COBOL
character set as described in PICTURE Clause. The editing characters in Table 3-6
specify the editing operations that a process performs on data when storing it in data
items. The compiler recognizes these characters as editing characters only within
PICTURE clauses. In all other places, these characters follow the rules for character-
strings and separators.
ALL literal The value of literal must contain one or more of these:
•
A nonnumeric literal
•
A national literal
•
A symbolic-character
•
One of the other reserved words previously defined as
figurative constants (except that you cannot precede an ALL
literal form of figurative constant with another ALL)
When literal is a nonnumeric literal or a national literal, this
form implies repetition of the literal’s value to the extent required
by the context. For the other cases, the word ALL is redundant
and is used only for readability.
Table 3-6. PICTURE Character-String Editing Characters
Character Editing Operation
B Space insertion
Z Zero suppression
0Zero
+Plus
- Minus
CR Credit
DB Debit
* Check protect
$ Dollar sign
, Comma or decimal point
. Period or decimal point
/Slash
Table 3-5. Figurative Constants (page 2 of 2)
Figurative Constant * What It Represents
* Singular and plural forms are equivalent and can be used interchangeably.