COBOL format definitions?

Hi all,

I'm not a COBOL programmer at all, but I am starting to work with data
that was given to me with a COBOL field format listing. I get most of
the format codes, but there are a few that I need to verify that I'm
understanding them correctly.

For example, I understand that PIC X(03) is an alpha/numeric field with
a length of 3 characters.
I also understand that PIC 9(03) is a numeric integer field with
numbers <= 999.

But I would like to find some sort of online listing or guide to help
me as I encounter other ones such as:

* PIC S9(09) COMP-3
* PIC 9(02)V9(04)
* PIC S9(07)V99 COMP-3

I don't need to program an import file (I know that SAS can convert a
COBOL copybook to a SAS informat), but I would like to sound half-way
intellegent with the people who provided the copybook when I have
questions about the files.

Can anyone point me to a good website that just explains the basics of
what these codes mean (there are others besides the 3 above that I
would like to be able to interpret).

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Barb

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: COBOL format definitions?
    ... I'm not a COBOL programmer at all, but I am starting to work with data ... that was given to me with a COBOL field format listing. ... COBOL copybook to a SAS informat), but I would like to sound half-way ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
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  • Re: COBOL format definitions?
    ... I'm not a COBOL programmer at all, but I am starting to work with data ... that was given to me with a COBOL field format listing. ... Barb, understanding PIC defintions is a non-trivial undertaking. ... If the PIC contains ONLY digits and a "V," allow one byte for each ...
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