Avoiding decimal arithmetic errors

For static SQL statements, the simplest way to avoid a division error is to override DEC31 rules by specifying the precompiler option DEC(15). In some cases you can avoid a division error by specifying D31.s, where s is a number between 1 and 9 and represents the minimum scale to be used for division operations. This specification reduces the probability of errors for statements that are embedded in the program.

If the dynamic SQL statements have bind, define, or invoke behavior and the value of the installation option for USE FOR DYNAMICRULES on panel DSNTIP4 is NO, you can use the precompiler option DEC(15), DEC15, or D15.s to override DEC31 rules, where s is a number between 1 and 9.

For a dynamic statement, or for a single static statement, use the scalar function DECIMAL to specify values of the precision and scale for a result that causes no errors.

Before you execute a dynamic statement, set the value of special register CURRENT PRECISION to DEC15 or D15.s, where s is a number between 1 and 9.

Even if you use DEC31 rules, multiplication operations can sometimes cause overflow because the precision of the product is greater than 31. To avoid overflow from multiplication of large numbers, use the MULTIPLY_ALT built-in function instead of the multiplication operator.