The text read off it
[02.05.07]
c) If a field is defined as external decimal the length specified by the pictorial must be exactly equal to the length of the constant. Also, the constant must utilize the sign convention given in the pictorial e.g.,
If the pictorial is 999⁺, the number 123⁺ would be correct whereas 123 would not be correct
d) If a field is defined as internal decimal the length of the field specified in the pictorial may be larger than the constant. In this case the constant is right justified in the field. If the constant is larger, the constant is truncated at the left-end to the size specified by the pictorial, converted and stored. Also, an error message is produced.
The appropriate sign conventions for internal decimal constants are:
i leading + or -
ii trailing + or -
iii no sign
3. QUANTITY IN data.name
Use of this option indicates that the associated entry(s) is to be repeated a variable number of times as determined at execute time by the value in the indicated 'data.name'.
The compiler reserves sufficient storage for the maximum number of times the field may be present on the basis of the value entered in the Quantity Field.
4. BLANK WHEN ZERO
When associated with an output field this clause indicates that the field is to be replaced with blanks when it becomes zero. Since leading blanks in numeric input fields are automatically treated as zeros, the use of this clause is redundant. In some cases it may even result in decreased efficiency in the object program as these fields are treated as edited types.