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

[Bill Klein]

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.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>