Bill Gribble wrote:
[...]
> Please be careful about use of the term "fixpoint". It implies that
> the smallest-countable-unit is related to the unity-unit by a
> power-of-ten relationship. That's true for US Dollars, but it's not
> something we can assume for other currencies or for other numeric
> values that we will want to represent in this format. Even if we
> *can* find a fixed-point library out there, it's not what we need,
> IMO.
Well, floating point is definitely NOT the proper solution for US dollars
(or any other currency of which I am aware -- anybody know a currency
still in use that isn't decimal? The UK abandoned the "shillings &
pence" in the '60's). One could use multiprecision integer and represent
US dollars in "cents", but that becomes a real pain in the tush, and so
is not a proper solution, either, IMHO.
The one place I can think of where you still see fractions commonly is
in stockmarket quotations, e.g., nonsense like "73 213/256". However,
the SEC has told the U.S. stock markets "thou shalt decimalize", and though
I don't recall off hand exactly when the deadline is, it's within the next
few months. Also, I think if you dig into it, you'd find a rule that
the smallest fraction they're allowed to use (at least for things over
$1) is 1/256. Although the SEC doesn't have any direct control over
non-US stock markets, "international market forces" (i.e., brokerage
firms moaning and groaning about having to maintain two different
systems) tend to keep them all doing pretty much the same things.
Clark
--
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily
those of anyone else. (As if anyone else would want them!)
Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED] RF: KI7TU
ICBM: 33 22' 01" N 111 43' 52" W Home Page: www.inficad.com/~jones
--
Gnucash Developer's List
To unsubscribe send empty email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
