Conversion Between Data Types

Introduction to Process Language › Data Types › Conversion Between Data Types

Conversion Between Data Types

CA ADS automatically performs data type conversion in the following cases:

In an assignment command, conversion is performed if the target field is a different data type than the source field.
In an arithmetic command, conversion is performed if the target field is a different data type than the result of the command.
In an arithmetic expression, all operands are converted to signed packed decimal fields or, if required, to internal floating point fields before the arithmetic operation is performed.
In any command in which numeric literals are used, fixed point numeric literals are stored internally as packed decimal fields, and floating point numeric literals are stored internally as internal short or long floating point fields.

Data Type Conversions

The following table shows the permissible data type conversions in arithmetic and assignment commands and in arithmetic expressions. Source data types are presented down the left-hand side. Target data types are presented across the top. Permissible conversions are indicated by a YES in the box formed by the intersection of the applicable source and target data types.

SOURCE	TARGET

SOURCE	Group	EBCDIC	Binary*	Decimal**	Multibit binary	Internal float pt.	Display float pt.
Group	YES¹	YES¹	YES²	YES²	YES³	YES²	NO
EBCDIC	YES¹	YES¹	YES²	YES²	YES³	YES²	NO
Binary^*	YES¹	YES⁴	YES	YES	YES⁵	YES	NO
Decimal^**	YES¹	YES⁴	YES	YES	YES⁵	YES	YES
Multibit binary	YES⁶	YES6	YES⁷	YES⁷	YES¹⁰	YES⁷	NO
Internal float pt.^***	YES¹	YES⁹	YES	YES	YES⁵	YES	YES⁸
Display float pt.^***	YES¹	YES¹	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES

Notes:

^* Binary includes halfword, fullword, and doubleword binary.

^**Decimal includes zoned and packed decimal.

^*** Internal floating point includes internal short and long floating point.

¹Source moved to target without conversion. Target is blank-filled or truncated on right, if necessary.

²Number begins at leftmost numeric digit and includes all numeric digits up to the first nonnumeric character (or end of data field). A negative sign can immediately precede the number. A decimal point can immediately precede or be embedded in the number. Embedded commas are ignored.

³Bits in source moved to bits in target without conversion. Target is binary zero filled or truncated on right, if necessary.

⁴If CA ADS moves are in effect, decimal portion and leading zeros are dropped, a negative sign, if any, is placed in front of the number, and the result is left justified in the target field, with leading blanks.

⁵ If COBOL moves are in effect, the decimal portion (without the decimal point) and leading zeros are maintained, the negative sign if any, is dropped, and the result is left justified in the target, with blank filling or truncation on right, if necessary.

⁶Decimal component of the number is dropped, forced positive, and converted to a binary fullword. Bits are moved left to right. Target is binary, zero filled, or truncated on right, if necessary.

⁷Each bit value 0 or 1 is converted to the character 0 or 1, as appropriate. Target is blank filled or truncated on right, if necessary.

⁸Source bits are right justified in a fullword. The resulting fullword value is forced positive by moving 0 to the leftmost bit, and is moved to the target with any required data conversion.

⁹The maximum output length is 23 bytes (mantissa sign, 17-digit mantissa, decimal point, character E, characteristic sign, and 2-digit characteristic). The minimum output length is 6 bytes (mantissa sign, 1-digit mantissa, character E, characteristic sign, and 2-digit characteristic).

¹⁰ The mantissa is converted to zoned decimal format and moved to the target. The negative sign and decimal point, if any, are dropped. The characteristic is not moved. Target is blank filled or truncated on right, if necessary.

¹¹ Target is binary zero filled or truncated on right, if necessary.

More information:

Options and Directives Screen