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

• Numeric Data Items
An item is in the numeric category when its PICTURE character-string contains only the symbols
from the set: 9, P, S, and V. The number of digits described must be greater than 0 and not
more than 18. The contents are represented externally as a combination of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, and 9. If the S is present, the sign of the value is retained.
Example 46 Numeric Data Items
05 DIVISION-TOTAL PIC S9(10)V99.
05 FRACTION-AMOUNT PIC VPP99.
The PICTURE character-string must include the symbol S if the item is described with a SIGN
clause. If the item inherits a SIGN clause from a data structure, the PICTURE character-string
cannot include the symbol S unless the item category is DISPLAY.
• Alphanumeric Data Items
An item is in the alphanumeric category when its PICTURE character-string contains both 9 s
and A s, or only X s, or a combination of 9 s, A s, and X s. A PICTURE character-string of all
A s or all 9 s is not an alphanumeric item. The item is handled as if the string contained only
X s. The contents of the item can be any combination of characters.
Example 47 Alphanumeric Data Items
10 STOCK-ITEM-NAME PIC X(25).
15 ZONE-ID PIC A(4)99.
• Alphanumeric Edited Data Items
An item is in the alphanumeric edited category when its PICTURE character-string
consists of at least one X or A and at least one B, zero (0 ), or slash (/). The contents of the
data item can be any combination of characters.
Example 48 Alphanumeric Edited Data Items
10 PART-NAME PIC X(5)BX(5).
15 BRANCH-CODE PIC XX0X.
05 REPORT-VERSION PIC XX/X.
20 SITE-ID PIC A(3)0A.
20 SYSTEM-TAG PIC AA/A.
05 SEAT-NUMBER PIC AB9.
• Numeric Edited Data Items
An item is in the numeric edited category when its PICTURE character-string contains only
combinations of the symbols B, slash (/), P, V, Z, zero (0 ), 9, comma (,), period (.), asterisk
(*), plus (+), minus (-), CR, DB, and the currency symbol (usually the dollar sign ($)). The
number of digit positions must be in the range from 1 through 18. The PICTURE character-string
must have at least one symbol from the listed set other than 9, P, or V.
Descriptions of Records (Levels 01-49) 197