Causes of DECIMAL DATA ERROR

[kpandian]

The following is the issue, i have faced.

I read a file and moved the value of one of its NUMERIC [Eg.FLD1] field to a working variable [Eg. WFLD1] in COBOL.

i.e MOVE FLD1 to WFLD1
[both fields are of numeric & length is same]

But, my program has received MCH1202 during the processing of the file.

Now, i need to find out the various possibles scenarios which can cause the DECIMAL DATA ERROR i.e MCH1202 in a COBOL program. so that i can avoid those scenarios.

Kindly help me in this regard.

[Terry Wincheste]

Re: Causes of DECIMAL DATA ERROR

Check to ensure the field has a valid numeric value *before* you move it:

if FLD1 numeric
    move FLD1 to WFLD1
else
    (Do Error Logic)
end-if

[johnmauro]

Re: Causes of DECIMAL DATA ERROR

and make sure the field receiving the numeric value has been properly set to a numeric value as in initilaization

[kpandian]

Re: Causes of DECIMAL DATA ERROR

Hi Terry and John,

thanks for the solution. I have also implemented the same like solution.

But, i just found that the following are the scenarios which will cause the DECIMAL DATA ERROR:
1. Assigning non-numeric values to NUMERIC field. [NUMERIC validation will prevent this]
2. Trying to refer a varible, which is not stored/assigned with any values. [Initialization will prevent this]

If there are anyother possible scenarios which would cause the error, kindly share the same.