RE: Hex codes showing up when field minus used.

["Richard Jackson" <richardjackson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Absolutely right!  I meant D all along.  C1 through C9 = A through I; D1
through D9 = J through R; E2 through E9 = S through Z; and F1 through F9 =
digit 1 through digit 9.  I lost my mind.  The 400 will tolerate other
nibbles for negative but will only create this one.  The 390 hardware is
extremely forgiving about the hex settings for negative (in the various
packed decimal arithmetic instructions).

Based on your recitation, I was confused about the problem.  But I am
uncomfortable with your pro & con arguments.  I think that I have made this
work but I don't remember off the top of my head how I did it.  I'm thinking
it was some "keyboard" setting but I have to do some reading.

Thanks for fixing up my mistake.

Richard Jackson
mailto:richardjackson@richardjackson.net
http://www.richardjacksonltd.com
Voice: 1 (303) 808-8058
Fax:   1 (303) 663-4325

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com [mailto:owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com]On
Behalf Of Douglas Handy
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2000 10:11 AM
To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: Hex codes showing up when field minus used.


Richard,

>If the whole number
>is zoned and negative, then the upper four bits of the low-order byte are
>1110 - hex E.

Actually, it is binary 1101 which is hex D, at least as the preferred
format.  I think at least one other zone is permitted as a negative
number for the sake of compatibility with data from some mainframes --
if memory serves me it was hex C or binary 1100 zone.  All the S/3x
machines used zone D for negative numbers.

>Why J through R plus one character?  Because the hex value for negative 1
is
>E1.  When printed, hex E1 is capital J.  Minus 2 is hex E2 and that is hex
>for capital K.  Capital R is coded hex E9.

xD1 is J, xD9 is R  whereas xE2 is S and xE9 is Z, so I suspect you
meant zone D all along

>What about this mystery "one extra character"?  Hex E0 isn't printable.

xE0 is a backslash character \, at least in my codepage

xD0 is a rightbrace }, which is what displays if the last digit is
zero and field- is used to exit a numeric display field

I think } may be a variant character, so I'm not sure what shows up in
other codepages -- I live a very sheltered life

>I hope that leads to a solution.

It doesn't really lead to a solution for the original "problem" of:

>> The actual program data I'm getting from the fields is correct,
>> but the hex interpretation is annoying and possibly confusing
>> to the user.

Adding an edit code will make the field appear correct when
redisplayed, but does not directly address how input appears prior to
pressing Enter, which is what Justin was seeking.

The WS controller just does not handle this as gracefully as we'd
like.  Possible "solutions" include:

 - User training.  (Does this count as a solution?)

     Teach them it really does work.  Or they can key an explicit
     minus sign if it gives them a warm, fuzzy feeling

 - Define the display field as signed numeric (S)

    Pro: Field- gives you an onscreen trailing minus sign
    Con: You cannot use an edit code; user cannot type decimal

I've also heard some people will redefine the Field- minus key to be a
macro with an explicit minus character (hyphen) followed by Field+.

Personally, I don't recommend this alternative.  It makes it
impossible to enter negative numbers should a display file use a
signed numeric (type S) field.  And it is only works for devices where
you can remap the keyboard.

Doug
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