Simplistic view maybe - but what about good old-fashioned BCD (Binary Coded
Decimal)?
Value Comp-3, hex
+0 0C
+1 1C
+12 01 2C
+123 12 3C
+1234 01 23 4C
-1 1D
-1234 01 23 4D
Here's a useful link...:
http://www.discinterchange.com/TechTalk_COBOL_comp_.html
Take a look at COMP-3.
Alternative BCD/packed decimal schemas use the concept of an "Overpunch" to
indicate negative numbers as some bit patterns are never used for digits:
0000 (0); 0001 (1) -> 1001 (9)
Regards
JayJay
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Johnson
Sent: 20 November 2005 05:14
To: [email protected]
Subject: [U2] 20 Digit Number
General Question. A client has just taken on a new major customer and we
have
to keep track of their product codes. These codes are 20 numbers long with
no
real prefixing, suffixing or patterns.
Is there any way to abbreviate numbers. I know this is a weird question but
I
know that I may be entering these codes manually during the testing and/or
installation phase of this project and 20 numbers is a lot of typing.
I've run out of ideas that simplify as most tend to complicate matters. The
users will eventually be using bar code, scanning off of printed documents.
As
I develop, I will not have that benefit.
I can calculator-enter numbers pretty effeciently given my accounting
background. But 20 digits is a lot.
I'm open to any ideas even if to know there are none.
Thanks in advance.
Mark Johnson
-------
u2-users mailing list
[email protected]
To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
-------
u2-users mailing list
[email protected]
To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
