What is the significance of the FILE SECTION in the COBOL Data Division?
- It declares variables for temporary storage
- It defines the data items used within a program
- It handles file input/output operations
- It specifies the file structure and characteristics
The FILE SECTION in COBOL's Data Division is used to specify the characteristics of files used in the program, such as record format, access mode, and file organization. It plays a crucial role in file processing operations.
In COBOL, which data type is often used for representing monetary values?
- PIC 9
- PIC 9(3) USAGE IS MONEY
- PIC S9(5)V99 COMP-3
- PIC X
The COBOL data type PIC S9(5)V99 COMP-3 is commonly used for representing monetary values. It is a packed-decimal format that efficiently stores decimal numbers, making it suitable for financial calculations.
In COBOL, what is the purpose of the COMPUTE statement?
- To compare two data items
- To initialize variables with default values
- To manipulate string data
- To perform complex arithmetic operations on numeric data items
The COMPUTE statement in COBOL is used for performing complex arithmetic operations on numeric data items. It provides a concise and readable way to express arithmetic computations in COBOL programs.
Your COBOL program is reading records from a file, and you want to specify actions to be taken when invalid data is encountered. Which phrase should you use with the READ verb?
- AT END
- END-OF-FILE
- INVALID KEY
- NOT INVALID
In COBOL, the phrase "INVALID KEY" is used with the READ verb to specify actions to be taken when invalid data is encountered during a file read operation. This allows the program to handle data validation errors gracefully and take appropriate actions based on the encountered condition.
What is the purpose of the CONTINUE statement in COBOL error handling?
- To handle runtime errors gracefully
- To restart the program execution from the beginning
- To terminate the program abruptly
- To transfer control to the next statement in the program
The CONTINUE statement in COBOL is used to transfer control to the next statement in the program. It is often used in error handling routines to proceed with the next logical step after encountering an error condition.
In COBOL, what does the "INVALID KEY" phrase do in the context of file processing?
- It denotes the key attribute for a record in a file
- It indicates that the file is corrupted and cannot be used
- It is used to declare a key as invalid in the file definition
- It is used to specify the action to be taken when an invalid key is encountered during file processing
The "INVALID KEY" phrase in COBOL is used to specify the action to be taken when an invalid key is encountered during file processing. This allows the program to handle errors gracefully and take appropriate actions, such as providing a default value or performing specific error-handling logic.
In COBOL, can you have a table with varying numbers of occurrences for each element?
- No, COBOL tables can only have a fixed number of occurrences
- No, COBOL tables must have a fixed number of occurrences for each element
- Yes, COBOL allows tables with varying numbers of occurrences for each element
- Yes, but it requires advanced programming techniques
Yes, in COBOL, tables can have varying numbers of occurrences for each element. This flexibility allows for more dynamic data structures in programs.
When working with variable-length records in COBOL, what additional information is often stored along with the data?
- Record Identifier
- Record Length
- Record Padding
- Record Type
When dealing with variable-length records in COBOL, the additional information often stored along with the data is the "Record Length." This length information helps the program know the size of each record in the file.
What is the significance of the OCCURS clause when used with group data items?
- It controls the iteration of a loop in a COBOL program
- It defines the level of the group item
- It defines the number of occurrences of a group item in an array
- It specifies the occurrence of a particular value within the group
The OCCURS clause in COBOL is used to define the number of occurrences of a group item, creating an array. It allows you to work with repeating data structures efficiently.
What is the main objective of file handling performance optimization in COBOL?
- Increase program complexity
- Maximize file size
- Minimize I/O operations
- Optimize CPU usage
The primary objective of file handling performance optimization in COBOL is to minimize I/O operations. This involves reducing the number of reads and writes to files, which enhances overall program efficiency and execution speed.