// Packed Decimal (IBM format) is stored with each digit or special in a nibble.
// All decimal digits represent themselves as nibbles.
//
// I'm presuming in this that P characters are not used in the picture; they
// complicate the situation.  The value should be descaled first if so.

static public final byte PD_PLUS=12;
static public final byte PD_MINUS=13;
static public final byte PD_PAD=14;
static public final byte PD_UNSIGNED=15;

// The picture length is the number of 9's, not including the assumed decimal V character 
// or the sign character S.

boolean usePadding=((picLength&1)==0);    // true if even number of digits

// You need to know the sign position; if always using the same sign position,
// you can eliminate the alternate cases.

// byte[] memory is the memory in which to store
// int offset is the offset into the memory in which to store

// The itemSize is the number of bytes of the packed-decimal number.

			boolean negative= false;

			// absbuffer is the string representation of the number
			String absbuffer= storeValue.toString();	// aka, "123.456"
			int length= absbuffer.length();

			// Normalize the absbuffer
			if (length > 2 && absbuffer.startsWith("0."))
			{
				absbuffer= absbuffer.substring(1); // .xxx
				length--;
			}
			else if (length > 1 && absbuffer.charAt(0) == '-')
			{
				negative= true;
				if (length > 3 && absbuffer.startsWith("-0."))
				{
					absbuffer= absbuffer.substring(2);
					length -= 2;
				}
				else
				{
					absbuffer= absbuffer.substring(1);
					length--;
				}
			}
			// Now, absbuffer contains the version we care about, an absolute numeric string

			int byteLow= PD_PAD; // never actually uses PD_PAD, impossible case
			int byteHigh= PD_PAD;
			// never actually uses PD_PAD, impossible case
			int decimal= absbuffer.indexOf((int) '.');
			if (decimal < 0)
				decimal= length;

			int load= decimal - (picLength - temporaryPlace);
			int signNibble;

			if ((signPosition == SIGN_LEADING
				|| signPosition == SIGN_LEADING_SEPARATE))
			{
				// sign leading
				signNibble= negative ? PD_MINUS : PD_PLUS;

				// leading body
				if (usePadding)
				{
					byteLow= signNibble;
					byteHigh= 0;
					// begin storebyte
					memory[offset++]= (byte) ((byteLow << 4) | byteHigh);
					// end storebyte
				}
				else
				{
					byteLow= signNibble;
					// begin getdigit
					if (load >= 0)
					{
						if (load == decimal)
							load++; // skip decimal point
						if (load >= length)
							byteHigh= 0;
						else
						{
							switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
							{
								case '0' :
									byteHigh= 0;
									break;
								case '1' :
									byteHigh= 1;
									break;
								case '2' :
									byteHigh= 2;
									break;
								case '3' :
									byteHigh= 3;
									break;
								case '4' :
									byteHigh= 4;
									break;
								case '5' :
									byteHigh= 5;
									break;
								case '6' :
									byteHigh= 6;
									break;
								case '7' :
									byteHigh= 7;
									break;
								case '8' :
									byteHigh= 8;
									break;
								case '9' :
									byteHigh= 9;
									break;
								case '+' :
									byteHigh= PD_PLUS;
									break;
								case '-' :
									byteHigh= PD_MINUS;
									break;
								default :
									byteHigh= PD_PAD;
									break;
							}
						}
					}
					else
						byteHigh= 0;
					load++;
					// end getdigit    
					// begin storebyte
					memory[offset++]= (byte) ((byteLow << 4) | byteHigh);
					// end storebyte
				}
				// main body
				for (int i= 1; i < itemSize; i++)
				{
					// begin getdigit
					if (load >= 0)
					{
						if (load == decimal)
							load++; // skip decimal point
						if (load >= length)
							byteLow= 0;
						else
						{
							switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
							{
								case '0' :
									byteLow= 0;
									break;
								case '1' :
									byteLow= 1;
									break;
								case '2' :
									byteLow= 2;
									break;
								case '3' :
									byteLow= 3;
									break;
								case '4' :
									byteLow= 4;
									break;
								case '5' :
									byteLow= 5;
									break;
								case '6' :
									byteLow= 6;
									break;
								case '7' :
									byteLow= 7;
									break;
								case '8' :
									byteLow= 8;
									break;
								case '9' :
									byteLow= 9;
									break;
								case '+' :
									byteLow= PD_PLUS;
									break;
								case '-' :
									byteLow= PD_MINUS;
									break;
								default :
									byteLow= PD_PAD;
									break;
							}
						}
					}
					else
						byteLow= 0;
					load++;
					// end getdigit    
					// begin getdigit
					if (load >= 0)
					{
						if (load == decimal)
							load++; // skip decimal point
						if (load >= length)
							byteHigh= 0;
						else
						{
							switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
							{
								case '0' :
									byteHigh= 0;
									break;
								case '1' :
									byteHigh= 1;
									break;
								case '2' :
									byteHigh= 2;
									break;
								case '3' :
									byteHigh= 3;
									break;
								case '4' :
									byteHigh= 4;
									break;
								case '5' :
									byteHigh= 5;
									break;
								case '6' :
									byteHigh= 6;
									break;
								case '7' :
									byteHigh= 7;
									break;
								case '8' :
									byteHigh= 8;
									break;
								case '9' :
									byteHigh= 9;
									break;
								case '+' :
									byteHigh= PD_PLUS;
									break;
								case '-' :
									byteHigh= PD_MINUS;
									break;
								default :
									byteHigh= PD_PAD;
									break;
							}
						}
					}
					else
						byteHigh= 0;
					load++;
					// end getdigit    
					// begin storebyte
					memory[offset++]= (byte) ((byteLow << 4) | byteHigh);
					// end storebyte
				}
				// trailing body is empty
			}
			else
			{
				// sign trailing or unsigned
				if (signPosition == SIGN_NONE)
					signNibble= PD_UNSIGNED;
				else
					signNibble= negative ? PD_MINUS : PD_PLUS;

				// leading body
				int i= 0;
				if (usePadding)
				{
					byteLow= 0;
					// begin getdigit
					if (load >= 0)
					{
						if (load == decimal)
							load++; // skip decimal point
						if (load >= length)
							byteHigh= 0;
						else
						{
							switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
							{
								case '0' :
									byteHigh= 0;
									break;
								case '1' :
									byteHigh= 1;
									break;
								case '2' :
									byteHigh= 2;
									break;
								case '3' :
									byteHigh= 3;
									break;
								case '4' :
									byteHigh= 4;
									break;
								case '5' :
									byteHigh= 5;
									break;
								case '6' :
									byteHigh= 6;
									break;
								case '7' :
									byteHigh= 7;
									break;
								case '8' :
									byteHigh= 8;
									break;
								case '9' :
									byteHigh= 9;
									break;
								case '+' :
									byteHigh= PD_PLUS;
									break;
								case '-' :
									byteHigh= PD_MINUS;
									break;
								default :
									byteHigh= PD_PAD;
									break;
							}
						}
					}
					else
						byteHigh= 0;
					load++;
					// end getdigit    
					// begin storebyte
					memory[offset++]= (byte) ((byteLow << 4) | byteHigh);
					// end storebyte
					i= 1;
				}
				// main body is same as above
				int itemSizeMinus1= itemSize - 1;
				for (; i < itemSizeMinus1; i++)
				{
					// begin getdigit
					if (load >= 0)
					{
						if (load == decimal)
							load++; // skip decimal point
						if (load >= length)
							byteLow= 0;
						else
						{
							switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
							{
								case '0' :
									byteLow= 0;
									break;
								case '1' :
									byteLow= 1;
									break;
								case '2' :
									byteLow= 2;
									break;
								case '3' :
									byteLow= 3;
									break;
								case '4' :
									byteLow= 4;
									break;
								case '5' :
									byteLow= 5;
									break;
								case '6' :
									byteLow= 6;
									break;
								case '7' :
									byteLow= 7;
									break;
								case '8' :
									byteLow= 8;
									break;
								case '9' :
									byteLow= 9;
									break;
								case '+' :
									byteLow= PD_PLUS;
									break;
								case '-' :
									byteLow= PD_MINUS;
									break;
								default :
									byteLow= PD_PAD;
									break;
							}
						}
					}
					else
						byteLow= 0;
					load++;
					// end getdigit    
					// begin getdigit
					if (load >= 0)
					{
						if (load == decimal)
							load++; // skip decimal point
						if (load >= length)
							byteHigh= 0;
						else
						{
							switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
							{
								case '0' :
									byteHigh= 0;
									break;
								case '1' :
									byteHigh= 1;
									break;
								case '2' :
									byteHigh= 2;
									break;
								case '3' :
									byteHigh= 3;
									break;
								case '4' :
									byteHigh= 4;
									break;
								case '5' :
									byteHigh= 5;
									break;
								case '6' :
									byteHigh= 6;
									break;
								case '7' :
									byteHigh= 7;
									break;
								case '8' :
									byteHigh= 8;
									break;
								case '9' :
									byteHigh= 9;
									break;
								case '+' :
									byteHigh= PD_PLUS;
									break;
								case '-' :
									byteHigh= PD_MINUS;
									break;
								default :
									byteHigh= PD_PAD;
									break;
							}
						}
					}
					else
						byteHigh= 0;
					load++;
					// end getdigit    
					// begin storebyte
					memory[offset++]= (byte) ((byteLow << 4) | byteHigh);
					// end storebyte
				}
				// trailing body

				// begin getdigit
				if (load >= 0)
				{
					if (load == decimal)
						load++; // skip decimal point
					if (load >= length)
						byteLow= 0;
					else
					{
						switch (absbuffer.charAt(load))
						{
							case '0' :
								byteLow= 0;
								break;
							case '1' :
								byteLow= 1;
								break;
							case '2' :
								byteLow= 2;
								break;
							case '3' :
								byteLow= 3;
								break;
							case '4' :
								byteLow= 4;
								break;
							case '5' :
								byteLow= 5;
								break;
							case '6' :
								byteLow= 6;
								break;
							case '7' :
								byteLow= 7;
								break;
							case '8' :
								byteLow= 8;
								break;
							case '9' :
								byteLow= 9;
								break;
							case '+' :
								byteLow= PD_PLUS;
								break;
							case '-' :
								byteLow= PD_MINUS;
								break;
							default :
								byteLow= PD_PAD;
								break;
						}
					}
				}
				else
					byteLow= 0;
				load++;
				// end getdigit    
				byteHigh= signNibble;
				// begin storebyte
				memory[offset++]= (byte) ((byteLow << 4) | byteHigh);
				// end storebyte
			}