IBM has predefined edit codes 5 through 9. You can use them as they are, or you can delete them and create your own. For a description of the IBM-supplied edit codes, see the iSeries Information Center programming category.
The user-defined edit codes allow you to handle common editing problems that would otherwise require the use of an edit word. Instead of the repetitive coding of the same edit word, a user-defined edit code can be used. These codes are system defined by the CL command CRTEDTD (Create Edit Description).
When you edit a field defined to have decimal places, be sure to use an edit word that has an editing mask for both the fractional and integer portions of the field. Remember that when a user-defined edit code is specified in a program, any system changes made to that user-defined edit code are not reflected until the program is recompiled. For further information on CRTEDTD, see the iSeries Information Center programming category.