Numeric assignments

The basic rule for numeric assignments is that the whole part of a decimal or integer number cannot be truncated. If necessary, the fractional part of a decimal number is truncated.

Decimal or integer to floating-point
Because floating-point numbers are only approximations of real numbers, the result of assigning a decimal or integer number to a floating-point column or variable might not be identical to the original number.
Floating-point or decimal to integer
When a single precision floating-point number is converted to integer, rounding occurs on the seventh significant digit, zeros are added to the end of the number, if necessary, starting from the seventh significant digit, and the fractional part of the number is eliminated. When a double precision floating-point or decimal number is converted to integer, the fractional part of the number is eliminated.
Decimal to decimal
When a decimal number is assigned to a decimal column or variable, the number is converted, if necessary, to the precision and the scale of the target.
Decimal to DECFLOAT
When a decimal number is assigned to a DECFLOAT column or variable, the number is converted to the precision (16 or 34) of the target. Leading zeros are eliminated.
Integer to decimal
When an integer is assigned to a decimal column or variable, the number is converted first to a temporary decimal number and then, if necessary, to the precision and scale of the target.
Integer to DECFLOAT
When an integer is assigned to a DECFLOAT column or variable, the number is converted first to a temporary decimal number and then to DECFLOAT.
Floating-point to floating-point
When a single precision floating-point number is assigned to a double precision floating-point column or variable, the single precision data is padded with eight hex zeros. When a double precision floating-point number is assigned to a single precision floating-point column or variable, the double precision data is converted and rounded up on the seventh hex digit.
Floating-point to decimal
When a single precision floating-point number is assigned to a decimal column or variable, the number is first converted to a temporary decimal number.
Floating point to DECFLOAT
When a single or double precision floating-point number is assigned to a DECFLOAT column or variable, the number is first converted to a temporary string representation of the floating point number. The string representation of the number is then converted to DECFLOAT.
DECFLOAT to integer
When a DECFLOAT is assigned to a binary integer column or variable, the fractional part of the number is lost.
DECFLOAT to decimal
When a DECFLOAT value is assigned to a decimal column or variable, the DECFLOAT value is converted, if necessary, to the precision and the scale of the target.
DECFLOAT to floating-point
Because floating-point numbers are only approximations of real numbers, the result of assigning a DECFLOAT value to a floating-point column or variable might not be identical to the original number.
DECFLOAT(16) to DECFLOAT(34)
When a DECFLOAT(16) is assigned to a DECFLOAT(34) column or variable, the exponent of the source is converted to the corresponding exponent in the result format, and the coefficient is extended by appending zeros on the left.
DECFLOAT(34) to DECFLOAT(16)
When a DECFLOAT(34) is assigned to a DECFLOAT(16) column or variable, the exponent of the source is converted to the corresponding exponent in the result format.
To COBOL integers
Assignment to COBOL integer variables uses the full size of the integer.

Parent topic: Assignment and comparison