SIGN Condition

The SIGN condition is used to test the sign (positive, negative, or zero) of numeric variables. It is mainly useful when we need to check the nature of the value (positive, negative, or zero) and then perform specific operations based on that.

Syntax -

variable IS [NOT] {POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | ZERO}

Parameters -

• variable - The numeric variable we want to test.
• POSITIVE - Checks if the variable holds a positive value. Zero is not considered as positive.
• NEGATIVE - Checks if the data item holds a negative value.
• ZERO - Checks if the value is zero.
• NEGATIVE - This can be used to reverse the condition, i.e., to check if the data in the variable is not positive, not negative, or not zero.

Examples -

Scenario1 - Testing for Positive Value.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-SALARY       PIC S9(5)V99 VALUE 10000.   

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    IF WS-SALARY IS POSITIVE
       DISPLAY 'The salary is positive'
    ELSE
       DISPLAY 'The salary is not positive'
	END-IF.

Output -

The salary is positive

Scenario2 - Testing for Negative Value.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-BALANCE       PIC S9(5)V99 VALUE -1000.   

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    IF WS-BALANCE IS NEGATIVE
       DISPLAY 'The balance is negative'
    ELSE
       DISPLAY 'The balance is not negative'
	END-IF.

Output -

The balance is not negative

Scenario3 - Testing for Zero Value.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-COUNT       PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.   

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    IF WS-COUNT IS ZERO
       DISPLAY 'No items to process'
    ELSE
       DISPLAY 'Processing ', COUNT, ' items'
	END-IF.

Output -

The balance is not negative