At 00:06 -0400 on 07/15/2012, John P. Baker wrote about Re: COBOL
packed decimal:
A positive value is identified by a sign encoded as --
X'A'
X'C' (Preferred)
X'E'
X'F'
A negative value is identified by a sign encoded as --
X'B'
X'D' (Preferred)
The preferred encoding are always generated by packed decimal instructions,
The alternative encoding are accepted as input to packed decimal
instructions.
I have a vague memory that the A and B values had to do with the old
S/360 ASCII mode which is where they were the defaults.
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