CODEWITHSUNDEEP
x86bcdcarryflag
Danny
Danny

Reputation: 85

auxiliary flag in X86 processor

The auxiliary flag becomes set when the lower nibble produces a carry to the higher order nibble. For example:

  1001   9
  1001   9
  ---- ----
1 0010  18

In this case the axillary carry is set.

I also heard that this carry is used to add 0110 to the lower order nibble during BCD addition in order to get the correct BCD answer.

But consider this case

1001  9
0011  3
---- ---
1100  12

In this case the carry is not generated from this nibble, the auxiliary carry is not set,but the answer is not the correct BCD addition. Then what prompts the processor to correct the answer and get the correct BCD answer?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 498

Answers (2)

m0skit0
m0skit0

Reputation: 25874

You have to do it manually using DAA or AAA. This will adjust the current nibble if > 9 and add 1 to the higher nibble.

Upvotes: 1

user555045
user555045

Reputation: 64933

The rest of the semantics of DAA (or AAA). In full, they are (for DAA):

IF 64-Bit Mode
  THEN
    #UD;
  ELSE
    old_AL ← AL;
    old_CF ← CF;
    CF ← 0;
    IF (((AL AND 0FH) > 9) or AF = 1)
      THEN
        AL ← AL + 6;
        CF ← old_CF or (Carry from AL ← AL + 6);
        AF ← 1;
      ELSE
        AF ← 0;
      FI;
    IF ((old_AL > 99H) or (old_CF = 1))
      THEN
        AL ← AL + 60H;
        CF ← 1;
      ELSE
        CF ← 0;
    FI;
FI;

So you see, it's not just AF that matters, it also checks whether the digit is > 9.

Upvotes: 3

Related Questions