Flat File Import

[joecobol]

I will be generating a flat text file that someone's cobol program will import.

in the FD they sent me, there is a PIC definition that I am not 100% sure about.

PIC S9(11)V9(02) SIGN IS LEADING SEPARATE CHARACTER.

if I am writing out the number -123.45

where does it expect the sign to be?

is it as follows:

-0000000012345

or

00000000-12345

Thank you in advance for help.

 

[RASI]

Just write the number out as -123.45. No need to pad with zeros etc. Cobol will do the rest.....

Have a good day,
RASI

 

[RASI]

Second thought,,,

Write it out as -12345

No need for the decimal, unless the programmer on the other end doesn't care. The PIC string will handle this also.

 

[joecobol]

thanks a ton.

 

[mrregan]

Hi,
If you were given a file spec that calls for that picture, I am pretty sure the Cobol user expects 14 character positions to be used with the first position as a sign and no decimal point.

 

[chipsharp]

I agree with mrregan - the programmer wants 14 characters
with the 1st or leading as the sign. Although why anyone
would want it that way is beyond me. If they left it as
a normal picture clause,without the "sign is leading seperate character", COBOL would handle it just as
Rasi suggests.

 

[Thane]

PIC S9(11)v99 sign leading separate

MUST be provided as follows:

For 123.45

+0000000012345

For a negative number (-123.45) it must be:
-0000000012345

Note the LACK of the decimal point - the V in the picture clause means "implied decimal". Sign Leading Separate gives you the - OR a + and it does NOT take up one of the numeric positions. The + and - are REQUIRED.

 

[RASI]

OK, I admit the advice I gave joecobol was in error because I didn't pay any attention to the "SIGN IS LEADING SEPARATE CHARACTER" requirement. (this was important)

But let me say this THANE, when you start using the words MUST and REQUIRED - Your answers can also be misleading...

Maybe your answer is just PLAIN Wrong also

Example, You wrote

MUST be provided as follows:

For 123.45

+0000000012345

For a negative number (-123.45) it must be:
-0000000012345

+ and - are REQUIRED.


The + is NOT required - The + is assumed, if not negative.

The
Negative number (-123.45) could also be written as

- 12345

the positive number as
12345.


It's amazing how we waste our time for no pay....

I remember now why i quit responding to questions because there seems to be no correct answer.

Back to my real job...

 

[Thane]

Uh...

AFAIK the +/- is required if you state sign leading separate.

This is DIFFERENT from specifying an edited numeric field.

Pic -99999999999.99 would give the results you indicate - a leading minus if negative, and a leading space if positive. Any COBOL that accepts a sign leading separate numeric field as input without a sign, (assuming there IS an S in the picture clause) is in error.

 

[RASI]

my Realia 4.2 does!