Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+, Pathway/iTS 1.0+)

Data Division
Compaq NonStop™ Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual—426750-001
5-48
Field-Characteristic Clauses
Z, comma, multiple plus and minus signs, CR, DB, and multiple currency signs. If a
mismatch occurs with an input character of this type, and if a space would be
acceptable at that point in the input string, the data is not considered in error; the
picture symbol is replaced by a space, and the TCP attempts to match the input
character with the next picture symbol. Table 5-5
gives the description of these
character-string symbols.
Table 5-5. Screen Description Entry PICTURE Character-String
Symbols (page 1 of 2)
Symbol Meaning
A Represents a character position for a letter of the alphabet or a space character. If
the character is not a letter or a space, it is flagged as an error.
B Represents a character position where a space must occur in the input. The space
is deleted during conversion into its associated data item. This character should
not be used as the rightmost character of a numeric picture because trailing
spaces are removed before conversion.
N Represents a double-byte character and is valid only in program units that specify
the KANJI-KATAKANA keyword in the CHARACTER-SET clause of the
OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph in the Environment Division.
P Indicates an implicit decimal position (with value zero) to be used in aligning the
decimal point in the numeric result. Refer to the description of the V symbol for
cautions.
V Indicates the decimal point location in a numeric item in which the terminal
operator will not enter an explicit decimal point. The alignment takes place from
the last character entered in the field. Use this symbol with care because the
variable length nature of data entered could cause unintended alignments to
occur. To avoid alignment problems, you should use the LENGTH clause to
require full length entry whenever you use a picture with implicit decimal places
and potentially absent positions (for example, positions defined with the Z
symbol).
X Represents a character position that can have any character from the ASCII
character set.
Z Represents a position that must be a digit or must be a space if no digits appear to
the left of the symbol. The symbol is replaced by a space during editing only
when it is one of a set of multiple Z symbols. A space is equivalent to a zero for
purposes of conversion.
9 Represents a character position that must be a digit.
0 Represents a character position where a zero must appear. The zero is deleted
during conversion into the associated data item.
/ Represents a character position where a right slant must appear. The / is deleted
during conversion into the associated data item.
, Represents a character position where a comma must appear if any digits appear
to the left of it. If no digits appear to the left of the symbol, the character must be
a space (or other floating insertion character). The comma is deleted during
conversion into the associated data item.