I don’t believe even the vector packed decimal instructions (chapter 25 in the latest PoOP) can handle more than 31 decimal digits.
The decimal floating point extended format (128 bits, chapter 20 in the PoOP) can handle 34 significant decimal digits though. Maybe that’s what you are remembering? Peter From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Steve Thompson Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2024 11:25 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Packed Decimal -- Extended(?) I seem to remember something said about an extension to packed decimal and new instructions. I've been looking at a recent z/Arch PoOP in pdf (IBM web site), and I can't seem to find what I hazily remember from a few years ago. Perhaps it is in a different publication. Could someone point me in the right direction, even if that is, you must have been dreaming. The issue is, how can COBOL handle larger packed decimal numbers than PACK/UNPACK can handle? I see this being a question that is going to get asked on a project I'm on.... And I can see special macros having to be developed for this.... -- This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
