>>>>>I can see an amount like $123.45 being 000012345 (the left seven being 0000123 and the right two being 45).
>>>>>
>>>>>But how do I express -$123.45 ?? Since I can't put the - in the string at all, since it wants only numeric values......
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>
>>>>VariableName PIC S999V99.
>>>
>>>Thanks, Grady.... we found some code here that will convert from the Decimal to the Cobol representation for negative numbers.
>>
>>Sign trailing overpunch? It's been 23 years since I last had to think about that. Unless, of course, it's a BCD, which is another format I forgot the same day :).
>
>Don't worry - It'll probably come back in style with the next Microsoft technology leap (backwards).

you're too late - http://www.netcobol.com/ :)) http://www.microfocus.com/