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It's not actually fixed point. All data in COBOL is text based, including numbers[1]. When number are put into working storage fields, they are converted to tex
by GartzenDeHaes 3y ago
It's not actually fixed point. All data in COBOL is text based, including numbers[1]. When number are put into working storage fields, they are converted to text and have to be truncated to the length of the field in characters.
[1] The COMP keyword does not convert working storage to binary, BTW.
- topaz0 3y agoI get what you're saying about the representation, but I think it's fair to say COBOL numbers are stored as decimal fixed point. i.e. it stores a certain number of digits, and the least-significant digit always has the same place value. (Though, again, correct me if I'm wrong).