5.3.11.3.3 "COBOL Language Reference" IBM Library Server

5.3.11.3.3 Numeric-edited Items

The PICTURE character-string can contain the following symbols:

B P V Z 9 0 / , . + - CR DB * cs

The combinations of symbols allowed are determined from the PICTURE clause symbol order allowed (see Figure 6 in topic 5.3.11.1), and the editing rules (see "PICTURE Clause Editing" in topic 5.3.11.4).

The following rules also apply:

Either the BLANK WHEN ZERO clause must be specified for the item, or the string must contain at least one of the following symbols:
```
         B  /  Z  0  ,  .  *  +  -  CR  DB  cs
```
The number of digit positions represented in the character-string must be in the range 1 through 18, inclusive.
The total number of character positions in the string (including editing-character positions) must not exceed 249.

The contents of those character positions representing digits in standard data format must be one of the 10 Arabic numerals.

Other Clauses: USAGE DISPLAY must be specified or implied.

Any associated VALUE clause must specify a nonnumeric literal or a figurative constant. The literal is treated exactly as specified; no editing is done.

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5.3.11.3.3 Numeric-edited Items

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