Mike

You are correct - I have found the same at these two links.

(1) http://www.3480-3590-data-conversion.com/article-signed-fields.html
(2) http://www.mscd.edu/~ittsdba/oradoc817/appdev.817/a76951/pcoaanew.htm

As to the omission I was trying to correct (allowing no overpunching for a positive signed number) I think this is actually a problem with the MRM, in that it incorrectly fails to punch a positive sign for a signed number. Because all systems accept unpunched as positive, it's never been spotted as a (benign) bug. WTX always punches a signed number.

I think that we should stick with the spec as currently worded.

Regards

Steve Hanson
Programming Model Architect, WebSphere Message Brokers,
OGF DFDL WG Co-Chair,
Hursley, UK,
Internet: smh@uk.ibm.com,
Phone (+44)/(0) 1962-815848

From:	Mike Beckerle <mbeckerle.dfdl@gmail.com>
To:	dfdl-wg@ogf.org
Date:	06/01/2010 14:39
Subject:	[DFDL-WG] zoned having leading overpunched sign - evidence for existence of
Sent by:	dfdl-wg-bounces@ogf.org

This google search:

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHMA_enUS361US361&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=leading+overpunched+sign

has a number of pages that hit,

Only http://www.uni.edu/coboldoc/cobrm_042.htm suggests there really is a leading overpunched sign. It suggests that CDO (an Oracle Cobol technology) supports SIGNED NUMERIC LEFT OVERPUNCHED l s, equivalent to Compaq Cobol S9(m)V9(n) LEADING, both of which mean zoned with leading overpunched sign, from what I can infer.

I've never seen such data, but this suggests there are Cobol systems, or were, which can create this format. Whether anyone using such compilers has ever exercised this format is also in question of course.

-- dfdl-wg mailing list dfdl-wg@ogf.org http://www.ogf.org/mailman/listinfo/dfdl-wg

Unless stated otherwise above:
IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with number 741598.
Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU