Mainframe storage of numbers question
Posted:
Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:08 am
by pintu1228
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to know what the value -8453.234 looks like in mainframe storage if stored in packed decimal and also if stored in zone decimal.
Can anyone help me understand this??
Thanks
Re: Mainframe storage of numbers question
Posted:
Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:09 am
by steve-myers
In hexadecimal representation
Packed - 8453234D
Zoned - F8F4F5F3F2F3D4
There are other, equally valid representations.
The last byte reflects the "preferred" sign for a negative number.
You can find more information through this link.
Re: Mainframe storage of numbers question
Posted:
Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:31 pm
by Robert Sample
One thing to note is that the decimal point itself is NOT stored in either zoned decimal nor packed decimal -- it is an implied decimal point only. If you need the decimal point stored, you use the "numeric edited" form of the PICTURE clause in COBOL.
Re: Mainframe storage of numbers question
Posted:
Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:52 pm
by enrico-sorichetti
the manual
z/Architecture Principles of Operationavailable here ( You might need to register to download )
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... c500428f9awill tell all You might want to know about
internal number representation