RE: [Re: RPGILE V4.3 Gotcha]

[Joel Fritz <JFritz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hans, you're absoulutely right about the result of an expression(surprise).
The manual actually says "Result Decimal Position precision rules apply only
to packed decimal intermediate results."  Missed the word "intermediate."
Adjectives do make a difference. <g>

As my punishment, I'll quote the manual's brief description of the default
precision rule:

"Using the default precision rule, the precision of a decimal intermediate
in an expression is computed to minimize the possibility of numeric 
overflow.  However, if the expression involves several operations on large
decimal numbers, the intermediates may end up with zero decimal 
positions. (Especially, if the expression has two or more nested divisions.)
This may not be what the programmer expects, especially in an 
assignment.
 
When determining the precision of a decimal intermediate, two steps occur:
 
1.  The desired or "natural" precision of the result is computed.
 
2.  If the natural precision is greater than 30 digits, the precision is
adjusted to fit in 30 digits. This normally involves first reducing the
number of 
    decimal positions, and then if necessary, reducing the total number of
digits of the intermediate."

 

  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boldt@ca.ibm.com [mailto:boldt@ca.ibm.com]
> Sent: Monday, October 04, 1999 12:46 PM
> To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
> Subject: RE: [Re: RPGILE V4.3 Gotcha]
> 
> 
> 
> 

/*               Big Snip                                           */  
> 
> "...the result of the expression may only be a packed field."???
> Where does it say that in the manual?
> 
> I thought the manual said that *RESDECPOS only applies to decimal
> operations.  *RESDECPOS is a solution for a problem that occurs
> only for decimal numerics, and not for the other numeric data
> types.
> 
> 
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