Characters in the last position of a numeric field...

[OUCATS]

I have received data that has 2 pay fields. The data field has 5 numbers and 1 character (A-R) (example - 00500A). Does anyone know what the character at the end represents?? I believe it represents a number and whether the field is positive or negative. Also, are there any conversion programs that will convert this character into a number automatically so I don't have to manually convert the field??

Thanks

 

[RPAtl]

I believe you're right--that is what I used to call "signed" data. I believe A through J gets replaced with 1 through 0, and K through U gets replaced with 1 through 0 but the number is negative. I will try to find a site to confirm this, but I think that's correct.

 

[dickiebird]

I concur with RPAtl - except its A-J = 1-0 positive
and K-T = 1-0 negative
My memories relate to signed fields in Cobol files.
Where do your data come from and what is used to produce it?
My bet is that they're Cobol output.
Dickie Bird
Honi soit qui mal y pense

 

[DaPi]

This is pre-history! The sign in the last byte was a IBM convention - used in Cobol, but not restricted to that language - I have a vague recollection of 360-series machine instructions to manipulate these (that dates it!). Sorry, I don't have a ref - try putting IBM in your search criteria.