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.
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.
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.
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.
When might you use the SORT operation in a COBOL program?
- To delete records that do not meet certain criteria
- To perform arithmetic operations on numeric fields
- When you need to arrange records in ascending or descending order based on specific fields
- When you want to concatenate multiple files without sorting
You might use the SORT operation in a COBOL program when you need to arrange records in ascending or descending order based on specific fields. It is commonly used for organizing data for reporting or analysis.
When dealing with indexed files, the "I-O" mode allows you to perform _____ operations on records.
- Increase and Optimize
- Index and Order
- Input and Output
- Insert and Overwrite
In COBOL, when dealing with indexed files, the "I-O" mode (Input-Output mode) allows you to perform both input and output operations on records. This means you can read records from the file and also modify or rewrite them.
Explain the concept of recursion in subprograms and its relevance in COBOL.
- Recursion in COBOL is limited to a fixed number of iterations.
- Recursion in COBOL refers to a subprogram calling itself either directly or indirectly. It is relevant for solving problems that can be broken down into smaller, similar subproblems.
- Recursion is not allowed in COBOL subprograms.
- Recursion is only applicable to main programs, not subprograms.
Recursion in COBOL subprograms involves a subprogram calling itself, either directly or indirectly. This concept is relevant for solving problems that can be decomposed into smaller, similar subproblems. Understanding recursion is important for designing efficient and modular COBOL programs.
Which COBOL statement is used to raise an exception explicitly in a program?
- DISPLAY
- MOVE
- PERFORM
- SIGNAL
The SIGNAL statement in COBOL is used to raise an exception explicitly in a program. It is used to indicate abnormal conditions that need special handling.
You are tasked with implementing a COBOL program that calculates employee bonuses based on performance ratings. Which COBOL statement or construct from the Procedure Division would you use for this task?
- EVALUATE statement
- INITIALIZE statement
- PERFORM...THRU
- SEARCH statement
The EVALUATE statement in COBOL is suitable for handling multiple conditions, making it ideal for calculating employee bonuses based on various performance ratings. It allows for a structured way to evaluate different conditions and execute corresponding code blocks.
In COBOL, a multi-dimensional array is often referred to as a _____ array.
- COMP
- GROUP
- INDEX
- OCCURS
In COBOL, when you define a multi-dimensional array, you use the OCCURS clause to specify the number of occurrences for each dimension. This creates a matrix-like structure, often referred to as an OCCURS array.
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.
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.