iTS 1.0+)

Data Division

Compaq NonStop™ Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual—426750-001

5-11

PICTURE Clause

Item Size

The size of a data item is determined by the symbols in its PICTURE string. Each A, X,

and 9 count as one character position. An S counts as one character only if the item is

subject to a SIGN IS SEPARATE clause.

If a data item is described as DISPLAY in a USAGE clause, the size of the item includes

the PICTURE string symbols. If the item is described as COMPUTATIONAL, the size

of the item is computed differently, as described under the USAGE clause.

Categories of Data

The PICTURE clause can describe categories of data: alphabetic, numeric,

alphanumeric, and double-byte data items. The results of most statements in the

Procedure Division depend on the categories of the data items. Some statements require

certain categories for some or all of their operands. In some cases, a statement can take

different actions depending on the category of the data items.

Table 5-1. Data Description Entry PICTURE Character-String Symbols

Symbol Meaning

A Represents a character position for a letter of the alphabet or a space character.

The symbol is counted in the size of the data item.

N Represents a double-byte character and is valid only in program units that specify

the KANJI-KATAKANA keyword in the CHARACTER-SET IS clause of the

OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph in the Environment Division. The symbol is

counted in the size of the data item.

P Indicates scaling when the decimal point is not among or adjacent to the digits of

the data item stored. The symbol is counted in determining the maximum

number of digit positions in numeric items (the maximum is 18). One or more P

symbols can appear only as a contiguous string to the left or right of all other

digit positions in the PICTURE string. The P symbol is redundant when used

with the V symbol because P implies an assumed decimal point.

If an operation involves conversion of data from one form of internal

representation to another and the data item being converted is described with the

P symbol, each digit position described by a P is considered to have the value

zero. The size of the data item includes those digit positions.

S Represents a signed numeric value. The symbol is counted in the size of the item

only if a SIGN IS SEPARATE clause is used.

V Represents the decimal point location in noninteger numeric items. The symbol

is not counted in the size of the item.

X Represents a character position that can have any character from the ASCII

character set and/or double-byte character sets. The symbol is counted in the size

of the item.

9 Represents a character position for a digit. The symbol is counted in the size of

the item.