"COBOL uses a fixed width character format for all data (yes even for COMP). If you want a four digit number, then you have to use 4 character positions." That

"COBOL uses a fixed width character format for all data (yes even for COMP). If you want a four digit number, then you have to use 4 character positions." That is incorrect. USAGE COMP will use binary, with the number number of bytes depending on the number of digits in the PIC. COMP-1 specifically takes 4 bytes. COMP-3 uses packed decimal (4 bits per digits).