"Brian Donaldson" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: [referring to my sample program showing a legal move of an alphanumeric data item to a numeric data item] > Based upon the info you gave, yes, it will work if the contents of the "X" > field are numeric. However, with an "X" definition anything can be put in > there, alpha or numeric data. That is true. However, it is also quite possible to put nonnumeric characters in a data item that is defined as numeric (for example, an item whose PICTURE character-string contains only the symbol '9'). > Your program won't give any problems provided the entire length of the "X" > field is filled with all numeric. If you had put e.g. "1234567 " in > that "X" field you would see a problem if the program was compiled with the > VALIDATE option in your $CONTROL statement at the top of the source code, You would see the exact same problem if the sending operand were defined as numeric but contained a nonnumeric character. Walter * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *