A colleague is new to COBOL programming and asks you about the significance of the "PROGRAM-ID" paragraph in the "IDENTIFICATION DIVISION." How would you explain its role?
- It defines the data items used in the program
- It indicates the program's execution flow
- It provides a unique identifier for the COBOL program
- It specifies the input and output files for the program
The "PROGRAM-ID" paragraph in the "IDENTIFICATION DIVISION" of a COBOL program provides a unique identifier for the program. It is used to uniquely identify the COBOL program and is often referenced in other parts of the system.
When might you choose to use a PERFORM UNTIL loop instead of a PERFORM VARYING loop?
- When the loop condition is based on a fixed number of iterations
- When the loop condition is based on a logical condition at the end of the loop
- When the loop condition is based on a specific range of values
- When the loop condition is not predetermined
A PERFORM UNTIL loop in COBOL is used when the loop condition is based on a logical condition at the end of the loop. It ensures that the loop continues until a specified condition is met, providing flexibility in defining the termination criteria.
When working with indexed files in COBOL, the _______ clause is used to specify the maximum number of alternate indexes.
- ALTINDEXMAX
- ALTMAXINDEX
- INDEXMAX
- MAXINDEX
The INDEXMAX clause in COBOL is used to specify the maximum number of alternate indexes associated with a particular file. This defines the limit on the number of alternate indexes that can be defined for efficient file access.
To identify duplicate records in a COBOL file, you can use the _____ clause in the file description.
- DUPLICATES
- OCCURS
- REPEATED
- UNIQUE
The DUPLICATES clause in the file description of a COBOL program is used to identify and handle duplicate records within the file. It allows the programmer to specify the criteria for identifying duplicates based on one or more fields.
What does the CLOSE verb in COBOL primarily do for an open file?
- Deletes the contents of the file
- Modifies the file's structure
- Opens the file for reading or writing
- Releases resources associated with the file and terminates the connection
The CLOSE verb in COBOL is used to release resources associated with an open file and terminate the connection between the COBOL program and the file. It ensures proper closure and cleanup after file operations.
In COBOL, what is the significance of the USAGE clause when defining variables?
- It controls the scope of a variable
- It defines the visibility of a data item
- It indicates the level of a data item
- It specifies the storage format of a data item
The USAGE clause in COBOL is used to specify the storage format of a data item, such as binary, packed-decimal, or display. It directly influences how the data is stored in memory.
What is the purpose of the ACCESS MODE clause when defining an indexed file in COBOL?
- DYNAMIC and RANDOM
- RANDOM and SEQUENTIAL
- SEQUENTIAL and DYNAMIC
- SEQUENTIAL only
The ACCESS MODE clause in COBOL specifies how the file will be accessed. RANDOM allows both direct and sequential access, while SEQUENTIAL allows only sequential access. Combining them provides flexibility in file access methods.
In a COBOL program, you need to store data related to multiple sales transactions, each having various attributes. How would you define a suitable data structure for this scenario?
- Defining individual variables for each attribute of a sales transaction
- Employing nested records to capture various attributes within each sales transaction
- Using an array or table structure with OCCURS clause to represent multiple sales transactions
- Utilizing REDEFINES clause to optimize storage for sales transaction data
Using an array or table structure with the OCCURS clause is suitable for handling multiple sales transactions, providing a systematic way to organize and process the data.
What is the primary purpose of using indexed file processing in COBOL, particularly with VSAM or similar systems?
- To ensure data integrity
- To provide faster access to records based on a specific key
- To reduce file storage space
- To simplify file organization
Indexed file processing in COBOL, especially with systems like VSAM, is designed to offer quicker access to records by using an index or key. This enhances retrieval speed, making it suitable for applications where rapid data access is crucial.
Which COBOL statement is used to handle exceptions and errors in the program flow?
- CONTINUE
- EVALUATE
- IF-ELSE
- PERFORM
The "CONTINUE" statement in COBOL is often used in error handling to indicate that no specific action is taken, and the program should continue with the next statement. It is commonly used within the context of error conditions to control program flow.