Mainframe, MVS and zOS Discussion

Hi,

I have compile error IGYDS1145-S. More than 18 digit positions were specified in a "PICTURE" string for a numeric or numeric edited item. A "PICTURE" string of "S9(18)" was assumed.

Hello.

The COBOL standards specified a maximum numeric length of 18 digits. By default, the compiler is configured to enforce this limit which is where the message is coming from.

The IBM compiler does have the facility to override this if the "ARITH" option is specified. The default is "ARITH(COMPAT)" which ensures compatibility. "ARITH(EXTEND)" expands the limit from 18 digits to 31 (which happens to be the architectural limit for a packed decimal number).