COMPUTE with negative value and unsigned destination

From: Walter Murray (wmurray_at_midtown.net)
Date: 02/10/05 

Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2005 23:16:21 -0800

2005-02-09T23:06-08:00

What does COBOL 85 (or COBOL 2002 for that matter) say about the behavior of
this program?

-----cut here-----
 IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
 PROGRAM-ID. COBTEST.
 DATA DIVISION.
 WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
 01 A PIC 99 VALUE 23.
 01 B PIC S99 VALUE -7.
 PROCEDURE DIVISION.
 BEGIN.
     COMPUTE A = B
         ON SIZE ERROR DISPLAY "SIZE ERROR"
         NOT ON SIZE ERROR DISPLAY "NOT SIZE ERROR"
     END-COMPUTE
     DISPLAY "A = " A
     STOP RUN.
 END PROGRAM COBTEST.
-----cut here-----

As I read the standard, a size error condition does not exist. However, I
can't find anything that says what happens when a negative value is assigned
to an unsigned numeric data item. With a MOVE statement, it's very clear
that the absolute value is stored. I can't find where it says that for
COMPUTE.

The compiler I use displays "NOT SIZE ERROR" and "A = 07". Does the
standard actually require that? Where?

Walter

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