COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.08+, J06.03+)

Table 32 PICTURE Character-String Symbols (continued)
DescriptionSymbol Counts in
Item’s Size
Symbol
P and the insertion character period (.) cannot be in the same
character-string.
In some operations that manipulate a data item whose
character-string contains P, the algebraic value of the
data item is used rather than the actual character representation
of the data item. In this algebraic value, the decimal point is in
the prescribed location and zero is in each digit position
specified by P. The size of the value is the number of digit
positions represented by the character-string. These
operations are any of:
• Any operation requiring a numeric sending operand
• A MOVE statement where the sending operand is a numeric
or numeric-edited data item, its character-string
contains P, and the receiving operand is numeric or
numeric-edited
• A comparison operand where both operands are numeric
In all other operations, the digit positions specified with P are
ignored.
Indicates that the picture string represents a signed numeric
value. Only one S can appear in a character-string.
Only if you use a
SIGN clause with a
SEPARATE phrase
S
If present, it must be the leftmost character. If no S is present,
the item is unsigned. A negative value becomes positive if it is
stored in an item that does not have an S.
The location (leading or trailing) and representation (embedded
or separate) attributes are specified in other clauses of the data
description entry, not in the PICTURE clause (see SIGN Clause).
Represents the assumed decimal point location in noninteger
numeric items. Only one V can appear in a
NoV
character-string, and V cannot occur in the same
character-string with an explicit decimal point.
Represents a character position that can contain any character
from the ASCII character set.
YesX
Represents a leading numeric character position whose contents
are to be replaced by a space when it and all preceding
YesZ
numeric character positions are 0. All Zs must precede any 9
s within the character-string.
Represents a character position for a digit.Yes9
Represents a character position where the character zero (0 )
is to be inserted.
Yes0
Represents a character position where a comma (,) is to be
inserted. A comma must not be the last (rightmost) character in
the character-string. See note below.
Yes,
Represents the decimal point for alignment purposes. A period
(.) is to be inserted at that position. The period must not be the
Yes.
last (rightmost) character in the character-string and can
only be used once. No V can occur in a PICTURE
character-string containing an explicit decimal point.
Represents a character position where a slash (/) is to be
inserted.
Yes/
Sign-editing symbols. A character-string cannot have
more than one sign-editing symbol. If it has one sign-editing
Yes+
-
Descriptions of Records (Levels 01-49) 193