From 3867297956833183290 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f78e5,fed4da4ddd62c919 X-Google-Attributes: gidf78e5,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1995-01-02 22:36:55 PST Path: nntp.gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!news.sprintlink.net!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.near.net!news.delphi.com!crayton From: crayton@delphi.com (Chris Crayton) Newsgroups: comp.std.c++ Subject: Re: Packed Decimal and C++ Date: 3 Jan 1995 05:04:26 GMT Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation Lines: 16 Message-ID: <95010300005913.DLITE.crayton@delphi.com> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1f.delphi.com X-To: Chris Crayton >It is a common misconception that more accurate computation is possible >in BCD than in binary. In fact, the only advantage that I know of for >BCD is that conversion to and from ASCII is quicker. [Er, and that >the Pentium bug doesn't affect you :-)] Writing in BCD does keep you from getting some roundoff errors that occur when you change $1.24 into a base 2 representation. People use BCD in financial calculations to make sure that the pennies always add up. Incidentally, Borland C++ has included a bcd type for several years now, complete with source. +--------------------+------------------------------------------------+ | crayton@delphi.com | I have come to chew bubble-gum and kick butt, | | Team OS/2 | and I'm all out of butt. -- Crow T. Robot |