1 ) A method of generating an executable computer program, the executable computer program including instructions for invoking decimal numeric computations during its execution on a computer system, the executable computer program generated by compilation of a computer program source file; the source file including: a) declarations of decimal numeric variables specifying declared attributes of each decimal numeric variable and, b) description of decimal arithmetic operations between two or more of the decimal numeric variables; the method comprising the steps of: A) reading, with a special compiler, the computer program source file; B) generating, by the special compiler, the executable computer program, the executable computer program including executable instructions which perform calls to a special decimal numeric subroutine stored in a memory associated with the computer system for performing decimal arithmetic operations; and, C) storing within the executable computer program, an argument list relating to at least one of the calls to the special decimal numeric subroutine containing at least one argument in the argument list that directly provides compiler generated comparative alignment information based upon comparison of the declared attributes of two or more of the decimal numeric variables, computation of the comparative alignment information performed by the special compiler at compile time, the special decimal numeric subroutine to perform a decimal numeric operation upon decimal numeric variables utilizing said compiler generated comparative alignment information to directly align at least one of the decimal numeric variables.