Yes, of course. But when you have maybe hundreds of programs that need to handle it is a problem. At least in a normal IT setting with typical programmers and typical requirements of performance.
Thomas Berg Den tors 11 juli 2024 12:15Binyamin Dissen < [email protected]> skrev: > Many decades ago in university I wrote a program in RPG2 to calculate > powers > to a hundred digits. Very doable. > > On Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:32:57 +0200 Thomas Berg > <[email protected]> wrote: > > :>FWIW, many years ago when I coded COBOL pgms for a bank we had problems > :>with this when we needed to convert currency in billions with 4 decimals. > :>Unfortunately I don't remember how we solved this. > :>But the point is that is/was a real problem. > :> > :>Thomas Berg > :> > :>Den tors 11 juli 2024 08:13Farley, Peter < > :>[email protected]> skrev: > :> > :>> All true Tom, but as far as I understand it the Vector Decimal > :>> instructions still do not provide any more digits of precision than the > :>> older, non-vector ones. I believe the OP was asking about more digits > of > :>> precision, not better CPU usage. COBOL's ARITH(EXTEND) option still > :>> provides only up to 31 digits of precision. > :>> > :>> And we still do not have COBOL access to the Decimal Float > capabilities of > :>> the hardware. Extended-format Decimal Float provides (if I am reading > PoOP > :>> correctly) up to 34 significant decimal digits of precision. > :>> > :>> Peter > :>> > :>> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On > Behalf > :>> Of Tom Ross > :>> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2024 12:41 AM > :>> To: [email protected] > :>> Subject: Packed Decimal -- Extended(?) > :>> > :>> > :>> <Snipped> > :>> > :>> > :>> > :>> The IBM z/OS COBOL compiler handled long numbers with packed-decimal > :>> > :>> instructions for years by using library routines that would process > :>> > :>> parts of the data nad then combine the results. > :>> > :>> > :>> > :>> Modern COBOL compilers on modern hardware (IE: customers who have > :>> > :>> z14 or later as DR machines) can compile with ARCH(12) which tells > :>> > :>> the compiler that we can use Vedtor Packed Decimal instructions, that > :>> > :>> can not only process many digits, but can process pacekd-decimal > :>> > :>> arithmetic with up to 90% less CPU usage than traditional packed- > :>> > :>> decimal instructions! > :>> > :>> > :>> > :>> In any case, I think the answer is to use a newer COBOL compiler :-) > :>> > :>> > :>> > :>> > :>> > :>> Cheers, > :>> > :>> TomR >> COBOL is the Language of the Future! << > :>> > :>> -- > :>> > :>> > :>> 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 > :>> > :> > :>---------------------------------------------------------------------- > :>For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > :>send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > -- > Binyamin Dissen <[email protected]> > http://www.dissensoftware.com > > Director, Dissen Software, Bar & Grill - Israel > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
