5250 error 0010: Only characters 0 through 9 allowed

What it means

Shift S in position 35 of the DDS makes a field signed numeric. IBM's DDS reference says you can type only the digits 0 to 9 in it. Blanks, plus signs and minus signs are refused. So is the decimal point, because the number of decimal places is fixed by the field definition, not by what you type. Any other character locks the keyboard and puts 0010 on the error line.

The sign is given with a key, not a character. You type the digits and leave the field with Field+ for a positive value or Field- for a negative one. After Field- the minus sign shows in the rightmost position of the field. Signed numeric fields are right-adjusted with blank fill by default, so the digits move to the right end when you press the exit key.

That rightmost position is kept for the sign. If you type a digit into it, the display station gives a different code, 0011, which means the key isn't valid in the sign position. The fix is the same as for 0010. Type only the digits the field holds and finish with a field exit key.

Common causes

• You typed a decimal point in an amount, such as 12.50.
• You typed a minus sign in front of a number to make it negative.
• You typed a space to separate digits or to blank out a position.
• You typed a letter in place of a digit, often O for zero.
• You kept typing into the last position of the field, which holds the sign. That gives 0011 rather than 0010.

How to find the problem

1. Look at the cursor. It marks where the refused character would have gone.
2. Press Help while 0010 or 0011 is on the error line to see the system's text for the error.
3. In the display file source, an S in position 35 marks a signed numeric field. The length in positions 30 to 34 and the decimal positions in 36 and 37 tell you how many digits it holds and how many of them are decimals.

How to fix it

• Press Reset (also called Error Reset) to free the keyboard. In many PC emulators Reset is the left Ctrl key by default. Then type the digits only.
• Leave out the decimal point. The field's decimal places come from its definition, so in a field with two decimal places you type 1250 for 12.50 and finish with Field Exit or Field+.
• For a negative value, type the digits and leave the field with Field-. In many emulators that is the minus key on the numeric keypad.
• For 0011, press Reset, check the digits you have typed, and leave the field with Field Exit, Field+ or Field-. Don't type into the last position.
• For programmers, if users need to type decimal points and minus signs themselves, use shift Y (numeric only) instead of S, which accepts the digits, plus, minus, comma, period and space. Recreate the display file with CRTDSPF and recompile the programs that use it if the record format level changes.

Technical reviewer: Albert Joseph, WND Software.

Last reviewed 2026-10-18 by the WND Software team. Written in our own words. For the full reference, check IBM’s 3270 or 5250 display documentation.