Creating zoned decimal with COBOL preferred signs

Products

• Easytrieve Report Generator

Issue/Introduction

Is there a way to define a signed zoned decimal field in Easytrieve so that positive values get a "C" sign?

Environment

Easytrieve Report Generator, release 11.6

Resolution

A zoned decimal field getting a positive amount in the left side of an assignment will always receive an 'F' sign under the Easytrieve product. 

If you need the 'C' cobol-like sign, please code: 

1. Redefine the last byte of the zoned decimal field in question as a one-byte binary field.

2. Adjust the sign with a statement like this one:

    IF NUM-FLD GE 0 THEN BIN-FIELD = BIN=FLD AND X'CF'

    where NUM-FLD is the zoned field and BIN-FLD is the one-byte binary field.