When using the READ verb in COBOL, the ________ clause is used to define what should happen when no matching record is found.
- ERROR
- EXCEPTION
- INVALID KEY
- NOT FOUND
When using the READ verb in COBOL, the INVALID KEY clause is used to define what should happen when no matching record is found. It allows you to handle the situation where the specified condition is met.
You are developing a COBOL application that needs to search for specific customer records by their account numbers efficiently. Which file organization should you choose for this purpose?
- Indexed
- Line-Sequential
- Relative
- Sequential
For efficient searching based on a key, an Indexed file organization is recommended. It allows direct access to records based on a key, in this case, the account number.
The "WORKING-STORAGE SECTION" is used to declare _____ that are accessible throughout the program.
- Data files
- Paragraphs and sections
- Procedure names
- Variables and constants
The "WORKING-STORAGE SECTION" in COBOL is used for declaring variables and constants that are accessible throughout the program. These variables retain their values between procedure calls and are typically used for temporary storage.
In COBOL, what is a record?
- A collection of related data items treated as a unit
- A program execution step
- A reserved word
- A single data item
In COBOL, a record is a collection of related data items treated as a unit. It is used to represent a complete set of information about a particular entity, such as a customer or an employee.
When using a PERFORM loop with the VARYING clause, the _______ clause determines how the loop control variable changes in each iteration.
- BY
- FROM
- THRU
- VARYING
In a PERFORM loop with the VARYING clause, the BY clause determines the increment or decrement applied to the loop control variable in each iteration. It specifies the step size for the loop.
In COBOL, what are the common strategies for recovering from a file error or exception?
- Closing the program upon encountering a file error
- Ignoring file errors for uninterrupted execution
- Implementing error-handling routines using the FILE-CONTROL paragraph
- Using the "CONTINUE" statement to skip the error
Common strategies for recovering from file errors in COBOL involve implementing error-handling routines in the FILE-CONTROL paragraph. This allows developers to define specific actions, such as displaying an error message or taking corrective measures, in case of file-related exceptions.
How is the "ELSE" statement used in conjunction with "IF" in COBOL?
- Declares an alternative condition for "IF" statement
- Ends the "IF" block and starts a new one
- Indicates the beginning of an "IF" block
- Specifies the action to be taken when the "IF" condition is false
The "ELSE" statement in COBOL is used to specify the action to be taken when the preceding "IF" condition is false. It provides an alternative branch of code execution.
Your COBOL program needs to process and merge two massive files containing stock market data, ensuring the merged data is in chronological order. What considerations should you keep in mind while implementing the MERGE operation?
- All of the above
- Allocate sufficient memory for sorting
- Ensure input files are sorted
- Use proper key fields for sorting
All of the above considerations are important while implementing the MERGE operation. Ensuring that input files are sorted, defining proper key fields, and allocating sufficient memory are crucial steps to ensure the merged data is in chronological order.
COBOL allows the use of logical operators like _____ in conditional statements.
- AND
- NOT
- OR
- XOR
COBOL allows the use of logical operators like AND, OR, and NOT in conditional statements. These operators enable the creation of complex conditions by combining multiple logical expressions.
You are developing a COBOL program to calculate the total sales for a retail store. Which COBOL statement would you use to add the sales amounts from multiple transactions?
- ADD statement
- COMPUTE statement
- MULTIPLY statement
- SUM statement
In COBOL, the ADD statement is used to perform arithmetic addition. It is suitable for adding sales amounts from multiple transactions to calculate the total sales in a retail store program. The COMPUTE statement is more versatile but ADD is commonly used for simple additions.