How do you declare a global variable in COBOL?
- By declaring the variable in the FILE SECTION
- By placing the variable in the WORKING-STORAGE section
- By using the GLOBAL keyword in the VARIABLE clause
- COBOL does not support global variables
In COBOL, global variables are declared in the WORKING-STORAGE section. This makes the variable accessible to all procedures within the program, ensuring a global scope.
In Object-Oriented COBOL, what is an object?
- A data structure
- A subroutine in a program
- A variable declaration
- An instance of a class
In Object-Oriented COBOL, an object is an instance of a class. A class defines a blueprint or template for objects, and an object is a concrete realization of that blueprint, encapsulating both data and behavior associated with the class.
You are working on a COBOL application that interacts with external web services. How can you handle exceptions related to network connectivity issues?
- Implementing the COBOL EVALUATE statement
- Incorporating the COBOL HANDLE statement
- Using the COBOL ON EXCEPTION clause
- Utilizing the COBOL PERFORM statement
Handling exceptions related to network connectivity issues can be done by using the COBOL ON EXCEPTION clause. This allows you to specify actions to take when a particular exception occurs, such as handling network-related errors gracefully in the context of interacting with external web services.
Your team is encountering record locking issues when multiple users are simultaneously accessing a VSAM indexed file. How would you implement file locking strategies to address this problem?
- Option 1: Implementing shared locks for all users
- Option 2: Using exclusive locks for all transactions
- Option 3: Employing a combination of shared and exclusive locks strategically
- Option 4: Avoiding locks altogether for seamless access
Employing a combination of shared and exclusive locks strategically is the preferred approach. Shared locks allow multiple users to read the file simultaneously, while exclusive locks ensure exclusive access for write operations, minimizing conflicts and ensuring data integrity in a multi-user environment.
How does the ON EXCEPTION condition handler differ from the WHEN condition handler in COBOL?
- ON EXCEPTION and WHEN are interchangeable and can be used interchangeably
- ON EXCEPTION is used for handling logical conditions, while WHEN is used for unexpected runtime errors
- ON EXCEPTION is used for handling unexpected runtime errors, while WHEN is used for logical conditions
- ON EXCEPTION is used only for arithmetic operations, and WHEN is used for other conditions
In COBOL, the ON EXCEPTION condition handler is specifically designed for handling unexpected runtime errors, such as divide-by-zero or overflow errors. In contrast, the WHEN condition handler is used for handling logical conditions in the program.
What is the difference between a figurative constant and a user-defined constant in COBOL?
- Figurative constants are declared using the CONSTANT keyword, while user-defined constants use the VALUE clause
- Figurative constants are numeric, and user-defined constants are alphanumeric
- Figurative constants represent predefined values like ZERO and SPACE, while user-defined constants are explicitly defined by the programmer using the VALUE clause
- There is no difference between figurative and user-defined constants in COBOL
Figurative constants in COBOL represent predefined values like ZERO, SPACE, etc. User-defined constants are explicitly defined by the programmer using the VALUE clause in the DATA DIVISION.
In your COBOL program, you need to handle the situation where a file record exceeds the defined maximum length. How would you approach this exception?
- Implement error handling using the FILE STATUS clause
- Increase the MAXIMUM RECORD SIZE in the file's FD entry
- Use the INVALID KEY clause in the file control entry
- Utilize the ON SIZE ERROR clause in the FILE SECTION
Handling file record length exceptions can be done by utilizing the ON SIZE ERROR clause in the FILE SECTION. This clause allows you to specify actions to be taken if a record size exceeds the defined maximum length.
What is the role of the RETURN statement in the COBOL Procedure Division?
- It is used to define a return value for a function
- It is used to exit a paragraph or section and return control to the calling program
- It is used to return a value from a called subroutine
- It is used to terminate the entire COBOL program
The RETURN statement in COBOL is used to exit a paragraph or section, returning control to the calling program. It is essential for managing program flow and ensuring proper execution.
________ is a technique used in COBOL to ensure data integrity during exceptional situations.
- Checkpoint
- Recovery
- Restart
- Rollback
Recovery is a technique used in COBOL to ensure data integrity during exceptional situations. It involves actions such as rollback, checkpoint, or restart to bring the system back to a consistent state after an exception.
When using the REDEFINES clause in COBOL, what happens to the memory occupied by the redefined data items?
- It is deallocated
- It is marked as read-only
- It is reallocated with a new address
- It is shared with the original data item
When the REDEFINES clause is used in COBOL, the memory occupied by the redefined data items is shared with the memory of the original data item. This means both the original and redefined data items refer to the same memory location, enabling different ways to interpret the stored data.