*Float8 Data Type
The * Float8 data type defines a floating-point field to 8 bytes. The decimal positions must be left blank. However, floating-point fields are considered to have decimal positions. As a result, float variables may not be used in any place where a numeric value without decimal places is required, such as an array index, do loop index, etc.
Use * Float4 to specify a floating-point field to 4 bytes.
Negative values have the same range, but with a negative sign.
*Float8 variables conform to the IEEE standard as supported by the AS/400. Since float variables are intended to represent “scientific” values, a numeric value stored in a float variable may not represent the exact same value as it would in a packed variable. Float should not be used when you need to represent numbers exactly to a specific number of decimal places, such as monetary amounts.
The default initialization value for numeric fields is zero.
The equivalent .NET data type is System.Double.