[DFDL-WG] zoned having leading overpunched sign - evidence for existence of

[Steve Hanson]

Mike 

You are correct - I have found the same at these two links. 

(1) http://www.3480-3590-data-conversion.com/article-signed-fields.html
(2) http://www.mscd.edu/~ittsdba/oradoc817/appdev.817/a76951/pcoaanew.htm

As to the omission I was trying to correct (allowing no overpunching for a 
positive signed number) I think this is actually a problem with the MRM, 
in that it incorrectly fails to punch a positive sign for a signed number. 
Because all systems accept unpunched as positive, it's never been spotted 
as a (benign) bug.   WTX always punches a signed number.

I think that we should stick with the spec as currently worded. 

Regards

Steve Hanson
Programming Model Architect, WebSphere Message  Brokers,
OGF DFDL WG Co-Chair,
Hursley, UK,
Internet: smh at uk.ibm.com,
Phone (+44)/(0) 1962-815848



From:
Mike Beckerle <mbeckerle.dfdl at gmail.com>
To:
dfdl-wg at ogf.org
Date:
06/01/2010 14:39
Subject:
[DFDL-WG] zoned having leading overpunched sign - evidence for  existence 
of
Sent by:
dfdl-wg-bounces at ogf.org



This google search:

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHMA_enUS361US361&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=leading+overpunched+sign

has a number of pages that hit, 

Only http://www.uni.edu/coboldoc/cobrm_042.htm suggests there really is a 
leading overpunched sign. It suggests that CDO (an Oracle Cobol 
technology) supports SIGNED NUMERIC LEFT OVERPUNCHED l s, equivalent to 
Compaq Cobol S9(m)V9(n) LEADING, both of which mean zoned with leading 
overpunched sign, from what I can infer.

I've never seen such data, but this suggests there are Cobol systems, or 
were, which can create this format. Whether anyone using such compilers 
has ever exercised this format is also in question of course.

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