Numeric Items with Scaling Position P

Numeric items can contain the character P in a PICTURE clause. These characters can be present as a continuous sequence at the beginning or end of PICTURE.

When located at the beginning of the clause, the P character indicates a decimal point followed by zeroes. For example, PIC PPP9 describes values 0.0001, 0.0002, and so on. When at the end of the clause, the P characters indicate the number of zeros at the end of a value. A decimal point is presumed at the end of a value. For example, PIC 9PPP describes values 1000 , 2000, and so on.

The storage size is unaffected by P, and the zeroes are not stored but rather are implicitly added to the actual algebraic value during mathematical operations, MOVE operations, and so on.

The Connector adds the zeroes as well, so that the flow sees the implied algebraic value.
  • Parse activity adds zeros to the output values and returns an algebraic value.
  • Render activity accepts an algebraic value and removes zeroes at P positions. Input values are validated to comply with use P in the PICTURE clause.