What is the significance of the INPUT PROCEDURE in a COBOL SORT statement?
- Defines the criteria for output record selection
- Provides a procedure to be executed before sorting starts
- Specifies the condition to be met for input records
- Specifies the output file for sorted records
The INPUT PROCEDURE in a COBOL SORT statement allows the programmer to specify a procedure that will be executed before the sorting process begins. It is commonly used for tasks such as data manipulation or validation before sorting.
In COBOL, the _____ clause is used to define the data items that are passed as arguments to a subprogram.
- GIVING
- INPUT
- OUTPUT
- USING
The USING clause in COBOL is used to define the data items that are passed as arguments to a subprogram during invocation. It specifies the variables or data areas to be shared between the calling and called programs.
What are some advantages of using VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method) for indexed file processing in COBOL?
- Efficient random access, support for large datasets, and built-in data integrity features
- High-speed sequential processing, easy integration with external files, and automatic record locking
- Simplicity in implementation, low storage overhead, and compatibility with relational databases
- Simplified data retrieval, compatibility with ASCII encoding, and low processing overhead
VSAM offers advantages such as efficient random access, support for large datasets, and built-in data integrity features, making it suitable for applications that require quick and direct access to specific records in a file.
How can you handle file positioning errors in COBOL?
- By checking the value of the FILE-STATUS special register
- By using the "AT END" condition
- By using the "INVALID KEY" phrase
- By using the "NOT INVALID" condition
File positioning errors in COBOL can be handled by using the "INVALID KEY" phrase. This allows programmers to specify actions to be taken when there is an issue with positioning within the file, such as moving to a default record or taking corrective measures.
In COBOL, what is the default scope of a variable declared within a procedure?
- Global scope
- Local scope
- Regional scope
- Universal scope
By default, a variable declared within a procedure in COBOL has a local scope. This means that the variable is accessible only within the procedure in which it is declared, reducing the risk of unintended interference with other parts of the program.
Explain the concept of "caching" in the context of file handling performance optimization.
- Caching is a technique to store frequently accessed data in memory for faster retrieval
- Caching is used only for read-only file operations
- It involves compressing file data to reduce storage space
- It refers to creating multiple copies of files for redundancy
Caching in file handling optimization involves storing frequently accessed data in memory, reducing the need for repeated disk access. This results in faster read operations as the data is readily available in memory, improving overall system performance.
The _____ statement in COBOL is used for looping and repetition.
- EVALUATE
- IF
- MOVE
- PERFORM
The PERFORM statement in COBOL is used for looping and repetition. It allows a set of statements to be executed iteratively based on a specified condition or a fixed number of times.
When using the PERFORM statement in COBOL, what is the difference between PERFORM...THRU and PERFORM...UNTIL?
- PERFORM...THRU is used for conditional statements, and PERFORM...UNTIL is used for unconditional statements.
- PERFORM...THRU is used for looping, and PERFORM...UNTIL is used for sequential execution.
- PERFORM...THRU is used with arrays, and PERFORM...UNTIL is used with strings.
- PERFORM...THRU specifies a range of paragraphs to be executed, while PERFORM...UNTIL repeats execution until a specified condition is true.
PERFORM...THRU is used to specify a range of paragraphs to be executed sequentially, while PERFORM...UNTIL repeats the execution until a specified condition is true. Understanding the difference is crucial for effective use of the PERFORM statement in COBOL programs.
What is the key difference between "EVALUATE" and "IF" statements in COBOL?
- "EVALUATE" is used for multiple condition testing, while "IF" is for single condition testing
- "IF" is used for arithmetic operations, while "EVALUATE" is for logical operations
- "IF" is used for multiple condition testing, while "EVALUATE" is for single condition testing
- Both "EVALUATE" and "IF" are interchangeable
The key difference is that "EVALUATE" is designed for handling multiple condition tests in a more structured way, allowing for cleaner and more readable code when dealing with complex scenarios, whereas "IF" is primarily for single condition testing.
In COBOL, what is the significance of the COMPUTATIONAL USAGE clause when defining numeric data items?
- It defines the level of the item
- It is used for conditional processing
- It specifies the data type of the item
- It specifies the initial value of the item
The COMPUTATIONAL USAGE clause in COBOL is used to specify the representation and storage format of numeric data items. It defines whether the item is binary, packed decimal, or floating-point. This declaration is crucial for proper storage allocation and processing of numeric data.
Which intrinsic function is used to return the current date in COBOL?
- FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE
- FUNCTION DATE-CURRENT
- FUNCTION DATE-NOW
- FUNCTION NOW
The FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE in COBOL is used to retrieve the current date. It returns a data item containing the current date in the format YYYYMMDD.
In COBOL, the EXIT statement is commonly used in conjunction with the _________ condition.
- EVALUATE
- IF
- NOT
- WHEN
In COBOL, the EXIT statement is commonly used in conjunction with the WHEN condition. This allows the program to exit a loop or a paragraph based on a specified condition.