COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs

Data Division
HP COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs—522555-006
7-58
PICTURE Clause
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Precedence Rules
Figure 7-2 shows the order of precedence for the symbols in a PICTURE
character-string. An x at an intersection indicates that the symbol at the top of the
column can precede the symbol at the left of the row. Where two symbols appear
in a column or row, they are mutually exclusive within the same character-string.
The comma (,) and period (.) insertion symbols can be reversed by the DECIMAL-
POINT COMMA clause (see DECIMAL-POINT Clause).
The symbol cs represents the currency symbol.
The nonfloating insertion symbols plus (+) and minus (-), the floating insertion
symbols Z, asterisk (*), plus (+), minus (-), and cs, and the symbol P appear
twice. The leftmost column and uppermost row for each symbol represents its use
to the left of the decimal point position. The other appearance of the symbol
represents its use to the right of the decimal point position.
Each PICTURE character-string must contain at least one of the symbols A, N, X,
Z, 9, or asterisk (*) or at least two of the symbols plus (+), minus (-), or cs.