IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know what the value -8453.234 looks like in mainframe storage if stored in packed decimal and also if stored in zone decimal.

Can anyone help me understand this??


Thanks

In hexadecimal representation
Packed - 8453234D
Zoned - F8F4F5F3F2F3D4

There are other, equally valid representations.

The last byte reflects the "preferred" sign for a negative number.

You can find more information through this link.

One thing to note is that the decimal point itself is NOT stored in either zoned decimal nor packed decimal -- it is an implied decimal point only. If you need the decimal point stored, you use the "numeric edited" form of the PICTURE clause in COBOL.

the manual
z/Architecture Principles of Operation

available here ( You might need to register to download )
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... c500428f9a

will tell all You might want to know about internal number representation