Re: signum

[John Gilmore]

Boolean values are bits in PL/I.

Writing, say,

declare (a,b, d) signed binary fixed(63,0), signum signed binary fixed(7, 0),
 (bigger, equal, smaller) aligned bit ;

permits either

d = a - b ;
select ;
  when(d > 0) signum = +1 ;
  when(d = 0) signum =   0 ;
  when(d < 0) signum =  -1 ;
end ;

or

d = a - b ;
bigger =  (d > 0
equal =  (d = 0) ;
smaller = (d < 0) ;

but nothing quite like your REXX construct is available.

John Gilmore, Ashland, MA 01721 - USA