RE: [open-cobol-list] Re: IS "PIC -.99999999E-99" invalid picture string for OpenCOBOL?

[Roger While]

Actually, I am wondering why one should need to specify
anything after the 'E'.
If, for instance, we have :
<whatever>E+9
and the value that we are moving according to the
definition of <whatever> causes a shift of more than 9,
then what ?

Roger

> Sorry, I was reading the table backwards.  The last COLUMN is for when "E"
> is the first symbol and it has the "X" in the row for "+" not in the row for
> "+ -".  In fact the explanation on the previous page explicitly SAYS that
> row is intended for the exponent of a numeric-edited floating point item.
>
> This also passes a "reasonability" test.  If the Standard *did* allow:
>
>   Pic 9.999E-99.
>
> then if the exponent were POSITIVE, this would be displayed with a SPACE for
> the sign of the exponent (i.e. in the middle of the displayed value).
>
> ON THE OTHER HAND, according to:
>
> http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/IGY3LR30/5.3.12.3
> .10
>
> IBM *does* allow a "-" in that exponent.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Roger While [mailto:address@hidden
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 12:35 AM
> > To: Bill Klein
> > Cc: address@hidden; address@hidden
> > Subject: RE: [open-cobol-list] Re: IS "PIC -.99999999E-99"
> > invalid picture string for OpenCOBOL?
> >
> > Hmm, On page 316, 12b, it states
> > "The exponent shall be '+9', '+99' or '+9(n)'
> >   where n = 1, 2 or 3".
> >
> > Although, as you say, the table on page 326 would seem
> > to indicate otherwise.
> >
> > Roger
> >
> > >On page 326 of the '02 Standard it shows "E" as the first
> > symbol and an "X"
> > >for + or - as the 2nd symbol.
> > >
> > >What mader you think that a "-" after the "E" was not
> > allowed? (I didn't
> > >check all the rules, but I certainly would EXPECT it to be allowed.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >