"Signed" decimal, EBCDIC character set; ie.

{,A-I: +(0,1-9)
},J-R: -(0,1-9)

... if I remember correctly.

Or, put another way:

Hex C0-C9 for the positive digits.
Hex D0-D9 for the negative digits.

eg.

C0 = "{"
C1 = "A"
C2 = "B"
..
D0 = "}"
D1 = "J"
..

>Importing a Cobol file
>
>pic s9(11)v99
>
>so length is 13 with a decimal point inserted between 11th and 12th numeral.
>
>However the data looks like
>
>000000157347A
>
>or
>
>000001798307{
>
>with either an alpha or a ( as the 13th character
>
>00000015734.7A is probably not what I should end up with. (don't think it's hexadecimal as alpha only appears as 13th)
>
>Can't find any Cobol examples that have the trailing alpha or ( in them.
>
>Any one have any ideas.