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Ten2008
730 pts.
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Q:
data base files
DB2, PF
How are the negative values in the packed fields are stored in the PF? How to enter negative data in those fields?
ASKED: May 27 2009  5:51 PM GMT
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Meandyou
1840 pts.
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Hi,

The negatives are stored with a sign in the rightmost position of the field - the sign is normally a letter and is dependent upon the rightmost digit in the value. This sounds more confusing than it is and you don't really need to know too much about it in practice.

To enter negative values in packed fields you could use DFU or SQL or any other data entry tool and just enter the value as a normal negative - the system will handle the packing and unpacking for you.

Regards,

Martin Gilbert.

////////////////////////////

Hi,
Expanding Martin explanation, to store a packed field the format in hex for number 12345 will be:
'12345F'

For -12345 it will be :
'12345D'

Well, the last byte ('5D') will represent character ')' but if you put this negative number in screen it will be displayed like :
'1234N'
because system will convert hex '12345D' to hex 'F1F2F3F4D5' and 'D5' is letter 'N'

Wilson
---

To expand on Wilson's answer... in his example it will only
display an N if you display the value with without consideration
for the sign. use a display field that allows for negative numbers
and you can display '-12345'.

Steve
Last Answered: Jul 29 2009  2:54 PM GMT by Meandyou   1840 pts.
Latest Contributors: WilsonAlano   2005 pts., Gilly400   23625 pts.
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Ten2008   730 pts.  |   May 28 2009  6:12PM GMT

Hi thanks for the feed back. But i still have a doubt. When i tried to enter a negative value into a packed field in a PF (like -1234.56) the keyboard is getting locked for entering - sign. Please explain how to avoid this. thanks again

Ram

 

WilsonAlano   2005 pts.  |   May 28 2009  7:58PM GMT

Hi Ram,

To allow enter a sing in a DSPF you must use a “keyboard shift” ‘S’ or ‘Y’ if you will use an edit code or edit word.

The minus sign must be entered after the number. 1234.45-

Regards
Wilson

 

LBurkett99   800 pts.  |   May 29 2009  10:28PM GMT

Enter your number (ie., 1234.45), then use the Field Minus key. I use Client Access, and the default for this key is the minus key on the 10-key pad.

Having done this the field will display with a non-numeric character in the right-most position of the field, but will show as 1234.45- when re-displayed on the screen.

Leo Burkett

 

Yorkshireman   3200 pts.  |   Jul 30 2009  3:42PM GMT

Ignore the sign at the bit level.

If you use DFU or any editor, it will transalte, as Leo says.

If you’re editing the PF at byte level, then check the manuals for the character map or write yourself a byte dump and understand which bit is the sign bit in the field.

A character ‘D’ for instance is merely a 5 with its sign bit set to negative, ditto for A, B etc. F indicates all bits set, which is taken as positive. I forget the other defaults for 1110, 1100 1101 etc -

Mainly - just use an editor and let the compilers take the strain..

 
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