RE: How are Packed Fields in an RPGIII DS Represented

If the field is declared on a D spec, you can use the PACKEVEN keyword to
cause it to be 6 positions (in this situation) rather than 7.

-Bob Cozzi
www.RPGxTools.com
RPG xTools - Enjoy programming again.


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 2:01 PM
To: 'RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries'
Subject: RE: How are Packed Fields in an RPGIII DS Represented 

Packed fields are stored in nibbles, with the last nibble representing
the sign, so the number of digits is the number of characters times two,
minus one for the sign.  A 6-byte packed field is 11 digits, a 3-byte
packed field is 5 digits.  Physically they always hold an odd number of
digits, so if you specify by position, the closest you can get is a
7-digit field with 6 positions:

P   1   4 6


Joe

> From: Ala, Michael A
> 
> I have a Packed field that is in a data structure the Field is 6
positions
> all 6 being decimal represented in RPG IV as  6P 6
> 
> But in RPG III is it  P 1    6 6
> Or would this be considered a 9 position with 6 decimal
> 
> If I try to key in P 1  3 6
> I get a syntax error in SEU That the Decimal Portion is greater than
the
> Field Length