Re: Binary variables in RPG

[Alan Cassidy <steelville@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

If I remember correctly, I think the original arithmetic instruction 
sets and "innards" for S/34, S/36 (and CISC?) were designed for packed 
numeric data, which was therefore faster for doing the math. Meaning to 
do calculations, convert to packed numeric and back. Checking 32767 
limits might put extra overhead on it?

By the way, for the new kids on the block, on the subject, sort of, 
RPG-III has 80 columns for SRCDTA because the old IBM punch card held 80 
columns, and they just kept the "backward compatibity". :-)

- Alan

> Why they original designed the "B" data type that way in RPG III is
> completely beyond me.
>