Using the IEEE Floating Point or Canonical Format

The FLOAT and SMALLFLOAT data types are handled inconsistently across different platforms. You can specify sending this data in either IEEE floating point format or machine-independent decimal representation:

• Enable IEEE floating point format to send all floating point values in either 32-bit (for SMALLFLOAT) or 64-bit (for FLOAT) IEEE floating point format.

  To use IEE floating point format, include the --floatieee option in your replicate definition.

  It is recommended that you define all new replicates with the --floatieee option.

• Enable canonical format to send floating-point values in a machine-independent decimal representation when you replicate data between dissimilar hardware platforms.

  To use canonical format, include the --floatcanon option in your replicate definition. The --floatcanon option is provided for backward compatibility only; it is recommended that you use the --floatieee option when defining new replicates.

• If you specify neither IEEE or canonical formats, Enterprise Replication sends FLOAT and SMALLFLOAT data types as a straight copy of machine representation. If you are replicating across different platforms, replicated floating-point numbers will be incorrect.

For more information, see Special Options.