Converting from packed to character in Query/400

 I am trying to use Net.Data macros to develop an application on our 
 Intranet.  The application must access and display numbers which are 
 stored in packed decimal format, and which are sometimes negative values.  
 I would prefer to use a C program, rather than COBOL (don't like) or RPG 
 (don't have); unfortunately, C does not handle packed decimal. 
 
 I found that I could convert the data to a character string in the Query 
 which runs before the C program, by using the DIGITS function.  This is 
 good, except that the DIGITS function does not retain the sign of the 
 number. (!)  I have figured out a kludgey way of handling this, but I 
 still wonder: Am I missing something obvious, or is there no easy way to 
 do this?
 
 TIA.
 
   -- Carol
 
 
 +=======================================================================+ 
 |    Carol Collins   Sr. Network Administrator                          | 
 |                    WASTREN  /  Holmes and Narver Services, Inc.       | 
 |                    2597 B-3/4 Road                                    | 
 |                    Grand Junction, CO  81503                          | 
 |                    U.S. Dept of Energy  Grand Junction Office         | 
 |    Internet:       Carol.Collins@doegjpo.com                          | 
 |    Phone   :       (970) 248-6524                                     | 
 +=======================================================================+
 
 
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