Creating a Numeric Expression

In this section:

How to:

Reference:

A numeric expression performs a calculation that uses numeric constants, fields, operators, and functions to return a numeric value. When you use a numeric expression to assign a value to a field, that field must have a numeric format. The default format is D12.2.

A numeric expression can consist of the following components, shown below in bold:

Before they are used in calculations, numeric values are generally converted to double-precision floating-point format. The result is then converted to the specified field format. In some cases the conversion may result in a difference in rounding. Note that environments that support native-mode arithmetic handle rounding differently. For details, see Evaluating Numeric Expressions With Native-Mode Arithmetic.

If a number is too large (greater than 1075) or too small (less than 10-75), you receive an Overflow or Underflow warning, and asterisks display for the field value.

Note: You can change the overflow character by issuing the SET OVERFLOWCHAR command.

For detailed information on rounding behavior for numeric data formats, see the Describing Data With WebFOCUS Language manual.


Top of page

x
Syntax: How to Express a Number in Scientific Notation

In an IF clause, use the following:

IF field op n[.nn]{E|D|e|d}[+|-]p 

In a WHERE clause, use the following:

WHERE field op EXPN(n[.nn{E|D|e|d}[+|-]p);

In a COMPUTE command, use the following:

COMPUTE field[/format] = EXPN(n[.nn]{{E|D|e|d}[+|-]p);

In a DEFINE command, use the following:

DEFINE FILE filename 
field[/format] = EXPN(n[.nn]{E|D|e|d}[+|-]p);
END

In a DEFINE in the Master File, use the following:

DEFINE field[/format] = EXPN(n[.nn]{{E|D|e|d}[+|-]p);

where:

field
Is a field in a request.
/format
Is the optional format of the field. For information on formats, see the Describing Data With WebFOCUS Language manual.
op
Is a relational operator in a request.
n.nn
Is a numeric constant that consists of a whole number component, followed by a decimal point, followed by a fractional component.
E, D, e, d
Denotes scientific notation. E, e, d, and D are interchangeable.
+, -
Indicates if p is positive or negative. Positive is the default.
p
Is the power of 10 to which to raise the number. The range of values for p is between  -78 and +78 on z/OS, -99 to +99 elsewhere.

Note: EXPN is useful for calculations on fields with F and D formats. It is generally not useful for calculations on fields with P or I formats.



Example: Evaluating a Number in Scientific Notation

You can use scientific notation in an IF or WHERE clause to express 8000 as 8E+03:

IF RCOST LT 8E+03
WHERE RCOST LT EXPN(8E+03)

Top of page

x
Reference: Arithmetic Operators

The following list shows the arithmetic operators you can use in an expression:

Addition

+

Subtraction

-

Multiplication

*

Division

/

Exponentiation

**

Note: If you attempt to divide by 0, the value of the expression is 0. Multiplication and exponentiation are not supported for date expressions of any type. To isolate part of a date, use a simple assignment command.



x
Order of Evaluation

Numeric expressions are evaluated in the following order:

  1. Exponentiation.
  2. Division and multiplication.
  3. Addition and subtraction.

When operators are at the same level, they are evaluated from left to right. Because expressions in parentheses are evaluated before any other expression, you can use parentheses to change this predefined order. For example, the following expressions yield different results because of parentheses:

COMPUTE PROFIT/D12.2  =  RETAIL_PRICE  -  UNIT_COST  *  UNIT_SOLD ;
COMPUTE PROFIT/D12.2  = (RETAIL_PRICE  -  UNIT_COST) *  UNIT_SOLD ;

In the first expression, UNIT_SOLD is first multiplied by UNIT_COST, and the result is subtracted from RETAIL_PRICE. In the second expression, UNIT_COST is first subtracted from RETAIL_PRICE, and that result is multiplied by UNIT_SOLD.

Note: Two operators cannot appear consecutively. The following expression is invalid:

a * -1

To make it valid, you must add parentheses:

a* (-1)


Example: Controlling the Order of Evaluation

The order of evaluation can affect the result of an expression. Suppose you want to determine the dollar loss in retail sales attributed to the return of damaged items. You could issue the following request:

TABLE FILE SALES
PRINT RETAIL_PRICE RETURNS DAMAGED
COMPUTE RETAIL_LOSS/D12.2 = RETAIL_PRICE * RETURNS + DAMAGED;
BY PROD_CODE
WHERE PROD_CODE IS 'E1';
END

The calculation

COMPUTE RETAIL_LOSS/D12.2 = RETAIL_PRICE * RETURNS + DAMAGED;

gives an incorrect result because RETAIL_PRICE is first multiplied by RETURNS, and then the result is added to DAMAGED. The correct result is achieved by adding RETURNS to DAMAGED, then multiplying the result by RETAIL_PRICE.

You can change the order of evaluation by enclosing expressions in parentheses. An expression in parentheses is evaluated before any other expression. You may also use parentheses to improve readability.

Using parentheses, the correct syntax for the preceding calculation is:

COMPUTE RETAIL_LOSS/D12.2 = RETAIL_PRICE * (RETURNS + DAMAGED);

The output is:

PROD_CODE  RETAIL_PRICE  RETURNS  DAMAGED     RETAIL_LOSS
---------  ------------  -------  -------     -----------
E1                 $.89        4        7            9.79

Top of page

x
Evaluating Numeric Expressions With Native-Mode Arithmetic

When native-mode arithmetic is used, a specific evaluation path is followed for each numeric expression based on the format of the operands and the operators. If the operands all have the same format, most operations are carried out in that format. If the operands have different formats, the operands are converted to a common format in a specific order of format precedence. Regardless of operand formats, some operators require conversion to specific formats so that all operands are in the appropriate format.


Top of page

x
Using Identical Operand Formats With Native-Mode Arithmetic

If all operands of a numeric operator are of the same format, you can use the following table to determine whether or not the operations are performed in that native format or if the operands are converted before and after executing the operation. In each case requiring conversion, operands are converted to the operational format and the intermediate result is returned in the operational format. If the format of the result differs from the format of the target variable, the result is converted to the format of the target variable.

Operation

 

Operational Format

Addition

+

Native

Subtraction

-

Native

Multiplication

*

Native

Full Division

/

Accepts single or double-precision floating point, converts all others to double-precision floating point

Exponentiation

**

Double-precision floating point



Example: Using Identical Operand Formats (Native-mode Arithmetic)

The following variables are defined as integers in WebFOCUS Maintain:

COMPUTE OPERANDONE/I4  ;
        OPERANDTWO/I4  ;
        RESULT/I4  ;

The required multiplication is done in native-mode arithmetic (integer arithmetic):

COMPUTE RESULT/I4 = OPERANDONE * OPERANDTWO  ;

Top of page

x
Using Different Operand Formats With Native-Mode Arithmetic

If operands of a numeric operator have different formats, you can use the following table to determine what the common format is after they are converted. The lower operand is converted to the format of the higher operand before performing the operation.

Order

Format

1

16-byte packed decimal

2

Double-precision floating point

3

8-byte packed-decimal

4

Single-precision floating point

5

Integer

6

Character (alphanumeric and text)

For example, if a 16-byte packed-decimal operand is used in an expression, all other operands are converted to 16-byte packed-decimal format for evaluation. On the other hand, if an expression includes only integer and alphanumeric operands, all alphanumeric operands are converted to integer format.

A character (that is, alphanumeric or text) value can be used in a computation if it is a numeric string. An attempt is made to convert the character operand to the format of the other operand in the expression. If both operands are character, an attempt is made to convert them to double-precision. If the conversion is not possible, an error message is generated.

If you assign a decimal value to an integer, the fractional value is truncated.


WebFOCUS