SIGN clause

Function

The SIGN clause specifies the position and the mode of representation of the operational sign for numeric data items.

Format

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[SIGN IS] {LEADING | TRAILING} [SEPARATE CHARACTER]

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Syntax rules

1. The SIGN clause may be specified only for a numeric data description entry whose PICTURE contains the character S.

2. The data description entries to which the SIGN clause applies must be described, explicitly or implicitly, as USAGE IS DISPLAY.

3. If the SIGN clause is specified in a report group description entry, the SIGN clause must contain the SEPARATE CHARACTER phrase.

4. The SIGN clause specifies the position and the mode of representation of the operational sign. It applies only to numeric data description entries whose PICTURE contains the character S. The S indicates the presence, but not the mode of representation, of the operational sign.

5. A numeric data description entry whose PICTURE contains the character S, but to which no SIGN clause applies, has an operational sign, but neither the representation nor, necessarily, the position of the operational sign is specified by the character S. (For representation of the operational sign see section "USAGE clause").

General rules

1. The following rules apply with respect to the required SEPARATE CHARACTER phrase:

   1. The letter S in a PICTURE character-string is counted in determining the size of the item.

   2. The operational sign will be presumed to be the leading (or, respectively, trailing) character position of the elementary numeric data item; this character position is not a digit position.

   3. The operational signs for positive and negative are the standard data format characters + and -, respectively.

2. Every numeric data description entry whose PICTURE character-string contains the character S is a signed numeric data description entry. If a SIGN clause applies to such an entry and conversion is necessary for purposes of computation or comparisons, conversion takes place automatically.