/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb BASIC, /SCALE  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

   The /SCALE qualifier specifies  a  scale  factor  between  zero  and  six,
   inclusive.  The scale factor affects only double-precision numbers.

   The format of the /SCALE qualifier is as follows:

      /SCALE=n

   The /SCALE qualifier helps to  control  accumulated  round-off  errors  by
   multiplying  floating-point  values by 10 raised to the scale factor power
   before storing them in variables.  The /SCALE qualifier is ignored for all
   but double-precision floating-point numbers.

                                      NOTE

           The /SCALE qualifier is provided  for  compatibility  with
           existing  programs  and  with other implementations of VAX
           BASIC.  Compaq recommends that you do not use this feature
           for new program development.  Accumulated round-off errors
           can be better controlled with packed decimal numbers.  See
           the  Compaq  BASIC  for  OpenVMS  Alpha  and  VAX  Systems
           Reference Manual for more information  on  packed  decimal
           numbers.

   The default is /SCALE = 0.