COBOL decimal number limit.

[Manju Mainframe]

Hi,

What is the maximum decimal position a numeric data item can have in COBOL. When I search for it I got the details about ARTH(EXTEND) but that's about using 31 digits in a numeric number. So does that mean if I want to use a decimal number, it can have 31-digits after decimal with that option active?

[William Collins]

For decimal (zoned or packed) 31 digits is the maximum, achieved, as you have pointed out correctly, by using compiler option ARITH(EXTEND). With ARITH(COMPAT) the maximum is 18 digits.

[Robert Sample]

The answer partly depends upon what you want to know. As far as fixed-decimal arithmetic, 31 digits is the absolute limit for a single variable in Enterprise COBOL. However, COBOL supports floating point variables that can use larger / smaller values (but the precision won't go over 8 or 16 digits, depending upon which COMP floating point format you use).

[William Collins]

ARITH(EXTEND) also increases the number of significant digits for COMP-1/COMP-2 floating-point data. Note that floating-point values are an "approximation" of a true decimal value. Sometimes a little off down a number of decimal places.