Re: A Packed-Decimal Machine? (was Entry Parameters)

 >> I think you said it right there, if Packed is faster than Binary,
isn't it a conclusion that Binary is converted to Packed before
math occurs?

I didn't say that - but maybe I'm being more obscure than usual.  RPG
_deliberately_ converts all type B binary fields to packed - not the AS/400 -
the RPG compiler.  COBOL does the same thing unless you use a compiler directive
to tell it not to.  It is not done for efficiency - I can explain it if you want
but maybe off list.  On the other hand the I and U binary types are processed in
their "raw" form and are way faster.

 >> Everything I have seen makes me think the AS/400 on the
machine level uses BCD math instead of hex math whenever
it can.

Nope - binary.  There are no pure hardware assists I don't believe - only
microcode.


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