Numeric Items

  • Types of numeric items are:
    • Binary
    • Packed decimal (internal decimal)
    • Zoned decimal (external decimal).
    • National decimal (external decimal)
  • The PICTURE character-string can contain only the symbols 9, P, S, and V.
  • The number of digit positions must range from 1 through 18, inclusive.
  • IBM Extension
    IBM Extension For packed and zoned decimal numeric items, the number of digit positions can range from 1 through 63, inclusive. End of IBM Extension
    End of IBM Extension
  • If unsigned, the contents of the item in standard data format must contain a combination of the Arabic numerals 0-9. If signed, it may also contain a +, -, or other representation of the operational sign.
  • The USAGE of the item can be DISPLAY, BINARY, COMPUTATIONAL, or PACKED-DECIMAL.
  • IBM Extension
    IBM Extension The USAGE of the item can be COMPUTATIONAL-3, COMPUTATIONAL-4, COMPUTATIONAL-5, or NATIONAL.

    For signed numeric items described with usage NATIONAL, the SIGN IS SEPARATE clause must be specified or implied.

    End of IBM Extension
    End of IBM Extension
  • A VALUE clause associated with an elementary numeric item must specify a numeric literal or the figurative constant ZERO. A VALUE clause associated with a group item consisting of elementary numeric items must specify a nonnumeric literal or a figurative constant, because the group is considered alphanumeric. In both cases, the literal is treated exactly as specified; no editing is performed.
Examples of numeric items: 
PICTURE          Valid Range of Values
9999                   0 through 9999
S99                  -99 through +99
S999V9            -999.9 through +999.9
PPP999                 0 through .000999
S999PPP            -1000 through -999000 and
                   +1000 through +999000 or zero