Algebraic Signs

Algebraic signs fall into two categories:

1. Operational signs, which are associated with signed numeric data items and signed numeric literals to indicate their algebraic properties.
2. Editing signs, which appear on edited reports to identify the sign of the item.

The SIGN clause permits you to state explicitly the location of the operational sign. The clause is optional; if it is not used, operational signs are represented as described in the section Selection Of Character Representation And Radix.

Editing signs are inserted into a data item through the use of the sign control symbols of the PICTURE clause.