Formats under OpenVMS

RBw.d Format: OpenVMS

Writes numeric data in real-binary (floating-point) representation.

Category:	numeric
Width range:	2 to 8
Default width:	4
Decimal range:	0 to 10
Alignment:	left
OpenVMS specifics:	native floating-point representation
See:	RBw.d Format in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary

Syntax
Details
See Also

Syntax

RBw.d

w: specifies the width of the output field.
d: specifies a scaling factor. The scaling factor is optional. When you specify a d value, the RBw.d format multiplies the number by the 10^d value, and then applies the real binary format to that value.

Details

Under OpenVMS, the RBw.d format causes floating-point numbers to be formatted in the native floating-point representation. Numeric data for scientific calculations are commonly represented in floating-point notation. (SAS stores all numeric values in floating-point notation.) A floating-point value consists of two parts: a mantissa that gives the value and an exponent that gives the value's magnitude.

Real binary is the most efficient format for representing numeric values because SAS already represents numbers this way and no conversion is needed.

For more information about OpenVMS floating-point representation, see HP OpenVMS Programming Concepts Manual, Volume II, Part I, OpenVMS Programming Interfaces: Calling a System Routine.