Picture symbol sequences

Begin figure description

The image for this figure shows a large table that presents valid picture symbol sequences. This description gives that information in a format that you can navigate with your browser.

If you are familiar with this description and want to skip the introduction, click Select a data item category.

Introduction

Information in this description is organized by data category. You can click a data category to find details of related picture symbols. At the end of a category, you can return to select another category or you can exit to the next picture symbol topic.

The following conventions are used in this description:

  • The word "left" or the word "right" before a picture symbol refers to the position of that symbol with respect to the decimal point position. For example, "right plus" refers to a plus sign to the right of the decimal point. If neither right nor left is indicated, a symbol is valid both left and right of the decimal point.
  • The term "slash" refers to a forward slash.
  • The term "currency symbol" refers to the default currency symbol or other currency symbol defined in the currency sign clause.
  • The phrase "9 can be followed by 9, P, V" means that a given symbol 9 can be followed by any one of the symbols 9, P, or V.
  • In this description, numeric date is shown as a data category for simplicity of documentation. Elsewhere in Enterprise COBOL information, a numeric date has numeric category.
  • The word "or" indicates mutually exclusive symbols for the following three symbol pairs:
    • Z or asterisk
    • Plus or minus
    • CR or DB

Picture symbol sequences are given for one symbol followed by one other symbol. To construct a valid sequence of symbols, choose a symbol to start with. Find the symbols that follow. Choose one of those symbols and find the symbols that follow, until you have the right sequence of symbols.

You can use your browser's back button at any time to return to the main picture symbol topic.

End of introduction.

Numeric category

Numeric picture symbols are 9, P, S, and V.

You can start a picture for a numeric item with any one of them. Then you can continue as follows:

  • 9 can be followed by: 9, left P, V.
  • Left P can be followed by: V, left P.
  • Right P can be followed by: 9, right P.
  • V can be followed by: 9, right P.
  • S can be followed by: 9, V, P.

Before you use P and V in the same picture, see the rules for symbol P.

End of numeric category. You can return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

Numeric date category

Numeric date picture symbols are S and 9.

You can start a picture for a numeric date item with S or 9. Then you can continue as follows:

  • S can be followed by: 9.
  • 9 can be followed by: 9.

End of numeric date category. You can return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

Alphabetic category

The Alphabetic picture symbol is A.

End of alphabetic category. You can return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

Alphanumeric category

Alphanumeric picture symbols are A, X, and 9.

You can start a picture for an alphanumeric item with any one of them. Alphanumeric picture symbols can be written in any combination, but the picture must contain at least one X.

End of alphanumeric category. You can return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

Alphanumeric-edited category

Alphanumeric-edited picture symbols are A, X, 9, B, 0, and slash.

You can start a picture for an alphanumeric-edited item with any one of them. The symbols can be written in any combination, but the picture must contain at least one A or X and at least one B, 0, or slash.

End of alphanumeric-edited category. You can return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

Numeric-edited category

Numeric-edited picture symbols are B, P, V, Z, 9, 0, slash, comma, period, plus, minus, CR, DB, asterisk, and currency symbol.

You can start a numeric-edited picture with any one of them except CR or DB.

You must code at least one of the following symbols: B, Z, 0, slash, comma, period, plus, minus, CR, DB, asterisk, currency symbol.

You must also follow the rules for the type of editing that you choose. (For details, see PICTURE clause editing and Numeric-edited items.)

Numeric-edited picture symbols are grouped into the following sets:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols (B, 0, slash, comma, period, plus, minus, CR, DB, currency symbol)
  • Floating insertion symbols (Z, asterisk, plus, minus, currency symbol)
  • Other symbols (9, S, V, P)

A given symbol can be used in multiple sets and you can use symbols from different sets in one picture.

To determine valid sequences, choose a symbol to start with. Then click an appropriate set:

Nonfloating insertion symbols

Nonfloating insertion symbols can be written as follows:

B, 0, slash, and comma can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols:
    • Z or asterisk
    • Plus or minus
    • Currency symbol
  • Other symbols: 9, left P, V

Period can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, right plus or right minus, CR or DB.
  • Floating insertion symbols:
    • Right Z or right asterisk
    • Right plus or right minus
    • Right currency symbol
  • Other symbols: 9

Left plus or left minus can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period, currency symbol
  • Floating insertion symbols:
    • Z or asterisk
    • Currency symbol
  • Other symbols: 9, V, P

Currency symbol can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols:
    • Z or asterisk
    • Plus or minus
  • Other symbols: 9, V, P

To continue, choose one of the following options:

Floating insertion symbols

Floating insertion symbols can be written as follows:

Left Z or left asterisk can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols: left Z or left asterisk, right Z or right asterisk
  • Other symbols: 9, left P, V

Right Z or right asterisk can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols: right Z or right asterisk
  • Other symbols: none

Left plus or left minus can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period
  • Floating insertion symbols: left plus or left minus, right plus or right minus
  • Other symbols: 9, left P, V

Right plus or right minus can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma
  • Floating insertion symbols: right plus or right minus
  • Other symbols: none

Left currency symbol can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols: left currency symbol or right currency symbol
  • Other symbols: 9, left P, V

Right currency symbol can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols: right currency symbol
  • Other symbols: none

To continue, choose one of the following options:

Other symbols

Other symbols can be written as follows:

9 can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, period, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols: none
  • Other symbols: 9, left P, V

V can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols:
    • Right Z or right asterisk
    • Right plus or right minus
    • Right currency symbol
  • Other symbols: 9, right P

Left P can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols: none
  • Other symbols: left P, V

Right P can be followed by:

  • Nonfloating insertion symbols: B, 0, slash, comma, right plus or right minus, CR or DB
  • Floating insertion symbols:
    • Right Z or right asterisk
  • Other symbols: 9, right P

To continue, choose one of the following options:

End of numeric-edited category. Return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

External floating point category

External floating point mantissa picture symbols are 9, period, and V.

You can start a mantissa picture with any one of them. Then you can continue as follows:

  • 9 can be followed by: 9, period, V
  • V can be followed by: 9
  • Period can be followed by: 9

You must include a period or a V, but not both.

For other details of the external floating point format, see External floating point items.

End of external floating point category. Return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

DBCS category

DBCS picture symbols are G and B.

As an alternative, you can use symbol N when the NSYMBOL(DBCS) compiler option is in effect.

You can use one of the following three sequences:

  • One or more occurrences of the picture symbol G
  • A combination of picture symbols G and B, in any sequence
  • One or more occurrences of the picture symbol N when the NSYMBOL(DBCS) compiler option is in effect

End of DBCS category. Return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

National category

The national picture symbol is N.

You can use one or more occurrences of picture symbol N to describe a data item of category national when the NSYMBOL(NATIONAL) compiler option is in effect. If the NSYMBOL(DBCS) compiler option is in effect, picture symbol N describes a DBCS data item.

End of national category. Return to Select a data item category or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

National-edited category

National-edited picture symbols are N, B, 0, and slash.

You can start a picture for a national-edited item with any one of them. The symbols can be written in any combination, but the picture must contain at least one N and at least one B, 0, or slash.

End of national-edited category. You can return to Select a data item category, exit to the start of the Symbols used in the PICTURE clause, or exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.

End of figure description. Exit to the next picture symbol topic Symbol P.