In COBOL, how can you define a group item containing multiple elementary items?
- By using the GROUP clause
- By using the OCCURS clause
- By using the REDEFINES clause
- Through the POINTER clause
In COBOL, a group item containing multiple elementary items can be defined using the GROUP clause. It allows you to group related data items together for organizational purposes and better data structure representation.
Why is it essential to handle duplicate records properly in COBOL programs?
- To prevent data inconsistencies and errors
- To reduce file storage requirements
- To simplify program logic
- To speed up program execution
Proper handling of duplicate records in COBOL programs is crucial to prevent data inconsistencies and errors. Incorrect handling may lead to inaccurate results and affect the integrity of the stored data.
What is the primary purpose of using sequential file processing in COBOL?
- To directly access any record in the file
- To perform arithmetic operations on file records
- To randomly access records based on a key
- To read and process records in a specific order from start to end
Sequential file processing in COBOL involves reading and processing records in a specific order, typically from the beginning to the end of the file. This is useful when the order of data matters, such as in reports or batch processing.
What is the purpose of using SORT and MERGE operations in COBOL when working with files containing duplicate records?
- Arrange data in a specific order based on key fields
- Combine multiple files into a single file
- Remove duplicates automatically
- Simplify file input/output operations
SORT and MERGE operations in COBOL are used to arrange data in a specific order based on key fields. This is particularly useful when dealing with files containing duplicate records, as it helps in efficiently locating and managing duplicates during processing.
In COBOL, what operator is used for multiplication?
- *
- +
- -
- /
In COBOL, the asterisk (*) operator is used for multiplication. For example, "MULTIPLY operand1 BY operand2 GIVING result." performs multiplication in COBOL.
In COBOL, what is a "watchpoint" used for during debugging?
- To display the program's output
- To identify syntax errors
- To monitor and break execution when a specified condition is met
- To skip certain lines of code during debugging
A "watchpoint" in COBOL debugging is used to monitor and break program execution when a specific condition is met. This helps programmers observe the program's behavior under certain circumstances and analyze variables or conditions at a specific point in the code.
Which COBOL statement is used for subtracting one numeric value from another?
- ADD
- DIVIDE
- MULTIPLY
- SUBTRACT
The SUBTRACT statement in COBOL is used to subtract one numeric value from another. It is a fundamental arithmetic operation in COBOL and supports various formats for different types of numeric data.
In a complex COBOL application, you encounter a situation where two different parts of the program need to access the same data item but interpret it differently. How can you achieve this using the REDEFINES clause?
- Create multiple 01-level records with different REDEFINES clauses
- Declare the data item with OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause
- Use 88-level condition names for each interpretation
- Utilize a nested data structure with REDEFINES clause
To have two different interpretations of the same data item in different parts of a program, you can use the REDEFINES clause within a nested data structure. This allows you to define multiple views of the same data item without conflicting interpretations.
When implementing exception handling in COBOL, the _______ statement is used to propagate an exception to higher-level routines.
- PROPAGATE
- RAISE
- SIGNAL
- THROW
The PROPAGATE statement in COBOL is used to propagate an exception to higher-level routines. It allows the handling of exceptions at different levels in the program hierarchy.
In COBOL, a record represents a ___________ data structure.
- Hierarchical
- Linear
- Relational
- Sequential
In COBOL, a record represents a Sequential data structure. Sequential records are stored one after the other, and each record contains fields that represent the data elements in a specific order.