You are working on a complex COBOL project with multiple programs. Which clause or method would you use to ensure that a particular variable can be accessed by all programs in the project?
- COMMON-LINKAGE section
- EXPORT statement
- External clause
- Global clause
In COBOL, you can ensure that a variable is accessible by all programs in a project by defining it in the COMMON-LINKAGE section. This section contains variables that are shared among all programs in the project, allowing them to exchange data.
How can you efficiently navigate through a file containing variable-length records in COBOL?
- Implement the READ NEXT RECORD statement
- Use the RELATIVE key in the file control entry
- Utilize the NEXT RECORD statement
- Utilize the RECORD CONTAINS clause
In COBOL, the efficient navigation through a file with variable-length records is achieved using the READ NEXT RECORD statement. This statement reads the next record in the file, regardless of its length, allowing seamless traversal.
When using intrinsic functions, what is the result of the FUNCTION NUMVAL("123.45") in COBOL?
- 0
- 123.45
- 12345
- Error
The FUNCTION NUMVAL("123.45") in COBOL returns the numeric value 123.45 after converting the given alphanumeric string into a numeric format.
The OCCURS clause is used to define _________ data items in COBOL.
- Complex
- Repeating
- Special
- Unique
The OCCURS clause in COBOL is used to define repeating data items. It allows the definition of arrays or tables, enabling the storage of multiple occurrences of the same data structure.
In COBOL, what is the difference between a data item defined in the WORKING-STORAGE section and a data item defined in the FILE SECTION?
- Data items in the WORKING-STORAGE section are temporary, while those in the FILE SECTION are permanent
- WORKING-STORAGE section is for data definitions, and FILE SECTION is for program logic
- WORKING-STORAGE section is for input/output files, and FILE SECTION is for internal variables
- WORKING-STORAGE section is for program logic, and FILE SECTION is for data definitions
The WORKING-STORAGE section in COBOL is used for variables that need to retain their values throughout the program execution, primarily for program logic. The FILE SECTION, on the other hand, is used for defining file-related data items and is not typically used for program logic.
How can the EXIT statement be used to terminate the execution of a COBOL program?
- By setting a specific condition code
- By specifying EXIT PROGRAM in the EXIT statement
- By using PERFORM UNTIL condition with EXIT
- By using STOP RUN statement
The EXIT statement alone does not terminate the execution of a COBOL program. To achieve program termination, you can use the STOP RUN statement, which explicitly instructs the COBOL run-time system to stop the program execution.
When the EXIT statement is executed, it can trigger the release of __________ resources.
- External
- File
- Memory
- System
When the EXIT statement is executed in COBOL, it can trigger the release of memory resources. This is particularly important for efficient resource management within a program.
What is the primary characteristic of a sequential file organization in COBOL?
- Records are stored in a consecutive order based on a key field
- Records are stored in a tree-like structure
- Records are stored randomly across the file
- Records can be directly accessed using an index
In a sequential file organization, records are stored in consecutive order based on a key field. This allows for easy retrieval of records in the order they were added to the file.
You are working on a COBOL program that calculates the age of a person based on their date of birth. Which COBOL function or technique would you use to perform this calculation?
- AGE function
- Arithmetic operations with date fields
- DATE-OF-BIRTH function
- Reference modification with date fields
In COBOL, you would typically perform age calculation using arithmetic operations with date fields. By subtracting the birthdate from the current date, you can obtain the age of the person.
How can the FUNCTION LENGTH intrinsic function be used to determine the length of a string in COBOL?
- FUNCTION LENGTH OF STRING-NAME
- FUNCTION LENGTH OF STRING-NAME RETURNING LENGTH-VARIABLE
- FUNCTION LENGTH STRING-NAME
- FUNCTION LENGTH(STRING-NAME)
The correct syntax for using FUNCTION LENGTH to determine the length of a string in COBOL is FUNCTION LENGTH OF STRING-NAME RETURNING LENGTH-VARIABLE. It returns the length of the specified string into the LENGTH-VARIABLE.