3.7 Numeric Format

Columns that provide numeric values conforming to specified rules and formatting requirements ensure clarity, accuracy, and ease of interpretation for humans and systems. The FOCUS specification does not require a specific level of precision for numeric values. The level of precision required for a given column is determined by the provider and should be part of a data definition published by the provider.

All columns capturing a numeric value, defined in the FOCUS specification, MUST follow the formatting requirements listed below. Custom numeric value capturing columns SHOULD adopt the same format requirements over time.

Rules and formatting requirements for numeric columns appearing in billing data.

• Columns with a Numeric value format MUST contain a single numeric value.
• Numeric values MUST be expressed as an integer value, a decimal value, or a value expressed in scientific notation. Fractional notation MUST NOT be used.
• Numeric values expressed using scientific notation MUST be expressed using E notation "mEn" with a real number m and an integer n indicating a value of "m x 10^n". The sign of the exponent MUST only be expressed as part of the exponent value if n is negative.
• Numeric values MUST NOT be expressed with mathematical symbols, functions, or operators.
• Numeric values MUST NOT contain qualifiers or additional characters (e.g., currency symbols, units of measure, etc.).
• Numeric values MUST NOT contain commas or punctuation marks except for a single decimal point (".") if required to express a decimal value.
• Numeric values MUST NOT include a character to represent a sign for a positive value. A negative sign (-) MUST indicate a negative value.
• Columns with a Numeric value format MUST present one of the following values as the "Data type" in the column definition.

  • Allowed values:

    Data Type	Type Description
    Integer	Specifies a numeric value represented by a whole number or by zero. Integer number formats correspond to standard data types defined by ISO/IEC 9899:2018
    Decimal	Specifies a numeric value represented by a decimal number. Decimal formats correspond to ISO/IEC/IEEE 60559:2011 and IEEE 754-2008 definitions.

• Providers SHOULD define precision and scale for Numeric Format columns using one of the following precision values in a data definition document that providers publish.

  • Allowed values:

    Data Type	Precision	Definition	Range / Significant Digits
    Integer	Short	16-bit signed short int ISO/IEC 9899:2018	-32,767 to +32,767
    Integer	Long	32-bit signed long int ISO/IEC 9899:2018	-2,147,483,647 to +2,147,483,647
    Integer	Extended	64-bit signed two's complement integer or higher	-(2^63 - 1) to (2^63 - 1)
    Decimal	Single	32-bit binary format IEEE 754-2008 floating-point (decimal32)	9
    Decimal	Double	64-bit binary format IEEE 754-2008 floating-point (decimal64)	16
    Decimal	Extended	128-bit binary format IEEE 754-2008 floating-point (decimal128) or higher	36+

3.7.4.1 Examples

This format requires that single numeric values be represented using an integer or decimal format without additional characters or qualifiers. The following lists provide examples of values that meet the requirements and those that do not.

• Values Meeting Numeric Requirements:

  • -100.2
  • -3
  • 4
  • 35.2E-7
  • 1.234

• Values NOT Meeting Numeric Requirements

  • 1 1/2 - contains fractional notation
  • 35.2E+7 - contains a positive exponent with a sign
  • 35.24 x 10^7 - contains an invalid format for scientific notation
  • [3,5,8] - contains an array
  • [4:5] - contains a range
  • 5i + 4 - contains a complex number
  • sqrt(2) - contains a mathematical symbol or operation
  • 2.3^3 - contains an exponent
  • 32 GiB - contains a unit of measure
  • $32 - contains a currency symbol
  • 3,432,342 - contains a comma
  • +333 - contains a positive sign

None