You are developing a COBOL program to process a file with variable-length records that represent customer orders. Each record has a different length based on the number of items ordered. What clause should you use to efficiently read and process these records?
- DEPENDING ON
- LINAGE IS 66
- OCCURS
- RECORDING MODE IS V
In COBOL, the DEPENDING ON clause is used to handle variable-length records. It allows the program to dynamically determine the length of the record based on the value specified in another field, such as the number of items ordered in this scenario.
When an error occurs in a COBOL program, what is the role of the "EXIT" statement?
- To display an error message to the user
- To jump to a specific paragraph and continue execution
- To skip the next statement and continue execution
- To terminate the program immediately
The "EXIT" statement in COBOL is used to jump to a specific paragraph when an error occurs, allowing for customized error handling and graceful termination of the program. It provides a way to manage errors and control the program flow based on specific conditions.
Which COBOL file organization is typically associated with ISAM files?
- Indexed
- Line Sequential
- Relative
- Sequential
ISAM files in COBOL are typically associated with the indexed file organization. This file organization allows records to be directly accessed using an index, providing efficient retrieval and update operations based on key values.
What is the purpose of the AFTER clause in a PERFORM statement?
- To define the conditions for loop termination
- To execute a block of code before entering the loop
- To indicate the starting point for loop execution
- To specify actions after the loop execution
The AFTER clause in a PERFORM statement is used to specify actions that should be performed after the completion of the loop. It allows you to define statements that will be executed once the loop has finished its iterations.
In the context of indexed file processing, what does an alternate index provide?
- A backup index used in case of index corruption
- A secondary copy of the primary index for redundancy
- An additional path to access records based on a different key, improving retrieval efficiency
- An alternative record layout for specialized queries
An alternate index in indexed file processing provides an additional path to access records based on a different key. This enhances retrieval efficiency by allowing applications to access the same data using different indexing criteria.
In COBOL, the OCCURS clause can be used to define a group data item with a ________ number of occurrences.
- Dynamic
- Fixed
- Limited
- Variable
The OCCURS clause in COBOL is used to define a group data item with a variable number of occurrences. It allows you to create arrays or tables with a dynamic size, providing flexibility in handling data elements.
You are developing a COBOL application that needs to retrieve customer information from a database. Which SQL statement should you use for this purpose?
- EXEC SQL DELETE
- EXEC SQL INSERT
- EXEC SQL SELECT
- EXEC SQL UPDATE
To retrieve data from a database in COBOL, you would use the EXEC SQL SELECT statement. This statement is used to query the database and retrieve specific information, such as customer details, based on the specified conditions.
In COBOL, _____ is commonly used for maintaining and accessing indexed files.
- ACCESS MODE IS RANDOM
- ACCESS MODE IS SEQUENTIAL
- FILE STATUS IS _______
- RECORD KEY IS _______
In COBOL, the "ACCESS MODE IS RANDOM" clause is commonly used for maintaining and accessing indexed files. This access mode allows random access to records based on the specified record key.
When is it preferable to use fixed-length records instead of variable-length records in COBOL file processing?
- When dealing with large files
- When optimizing for storage space is crucial
- When the records have varying structures
- When there is a need for dynamic record lengths
Fixed-length records are preferable in COBOL when optimizing for storage space is crucial. This is because fixed-length records allocate a consistent amount of storage for each record, which can be more space-efficient in certain scenarios.
The "EVALUATE" statement in COBOL is particularly useful when you have to evaluate multiple _____ in your program.
- Conditions
- Expressions
- Statements
- Variables
The "EVALUATE" statement in COBOL is useful when you need to evaluate multiple conditions in your program. It provides a concise and efficient way to handle multiple branches of logic based on the value of an expression or variable.
Explain the purpose of the PREPARE statement in COBOL when dealing with dynamic SQL.
- The PREPARE statement is used to declare and initialize variables before using them in SQL statements.
- The PREPARE statement is used to define the structure of the database tables in COBOL programs.
- The PREPARE statement is used to execute SQL statements directly in COBOL programs.
- The PREPARE statement is used to validate SQL syntax and create an execution plan without executing the statement immediately. This is particularly useful in dynamic SQL scenarios where the SQL statement is not known until runtime.
In dynamic SQL, the PREPARE statement in COBOL is used to validate SQL syntax and create an execution plan without immediate execution. It allows for flexibility when the SQL statement is determined at runtime.
In COBOL, when is the EXIT statement typically used for error handling?
- At the end of every COBOL program
- To terminate the program gracefully
- When an abnormal condition occurs during program execution
- When performing arithmetic calculations
The EXIT statement in COBOL is typically used for error handling when an abnormal condition occurs during program execution. It provides a mechanism to exit the program prematurely and handle exceptional situations.