In COBOL, what type of file organization is suitable for random access to records?
- Indexed file organization
- Line sequential file organization
- Relative file organization
- Sequential file organization
Indexed file organization in COBOL is suitable for random access to records. It employs an index file that contains pointers to the actual records, enabling direct access based on the indexed key.
You are developing a COBOL program that needs to calculate the square root of a given number. Which COBOL intrinsic function would you use for this purpose?
- ABS
- EXP
- LOG
- SQRT
The SQRT intrinsic function in COBOL is used to calculate the square root of a given number. It is suitable for scenarios where you need to perform mathematical operations involving square roots.
How does the ON EXCEPTION condition handler differ from the WHEN condition handler in COBOL?
- ON EXCEPTION and WHEN are interchangeable and can be used interchangeably
- ON EXCEPTION is used for handling logical conditions, while WHEN is used for unexpected runtime errors
- ON EXCEPTION is used for handling unexpected runtime errors, while WHEN is used for logical conditions
- ON EXCEPTION is used only for arithmetic operations, and WHEN is used for other conditions
In COBOL, the ON EXCEPTION condition handler is specifically designed for handling unexpected runtime errors, such as divide-by-zero or overflow errors. In contrast, the WHEN condition handler is used for handling logical conditions in the program.
Your team is encountering record locking issues when multiple users are simultaneously accessing a VSAM indexed file. How would you implement file locking strategies to address this problem?
- Option 1: Implementing shared locks for all users
- Option 2: Using exclusive locks for all transactions
- Option 3: Employing a combination of shared and exclusive locks strategically
- Option 4: Avoiding locks altogether for seamless access
Employing a combination of shared and exclusive locks strategically is the preferred approach. Shared locks allow multiple users to read the file simultaneously, while exclusive locks ensure exclusive access for write operations, minimizing conflicts and ensuring data integrity in a multi-user environment.
You are working on a COBOL application that interacts with external web services. How can you handle exceptions related to network connectivity issues?
- Implementing the COBOL EVALUATE statement
- Incorporating the COBOL HANDLE statement
- Using the COBOL ON EXCEPTION clause
- Utilizing the COBOL PERFORM statement
Handling exceptions related to network connectivity issues can be done by using the COBOL ON EXCEPTION clause. This allows you to specify actions to take when a particular exception occurs, such as handling network-related errors gracefully in the context of interacting with external web services.
In Object-Oriented COBOL, what is an object?
- A data structure
- A subroutine in a program
- A variable declaration
- An instance of a class
In Object-Oriented COBOL, an object is an instance of a class. A class defines a blueprint or template for objects, and an object is a concrete realization of that blueprint, encapsulating both data and behavior associated with the class.
Which data types can the OCCURS clause be applied to in COBOL?
- Group items and elementary items
- Only alphabetic data types
- Only elementary items
- Only numeric data types
The OCCURS clause in COBOL can be applied to both group items and elementary items. It allows the definition of repeating data structures for both simple and complex data types, providing flexibility in handling repeated data.
The _______ clause is used to define the format of the index or key field in COBOL indexed files.
- DATA
- KEY
- LENGTH
- RECORD
The KEY clause in COBOL is used to define the format of the index or key field in indexed files. It specifies the data item that serves as the key for organizing and accessing records in the file.
What is the key difference between the REDEFINES clause and the RENAMES clause in COBOL?
- Both clauses serve the same purpose
- REDEFINES is used for reinterpreting data with different formats, while RENAMES is used for providing alternate names to data items
- REDEFINES is used only for numeric data items, while RENAMES is used for alphanumeric data items
- RENAMES is used for reinterpreting data with different formats, while REDEFINES is used for providing alternate names to data items
The key difference is that the REDEFINES clause is used for reinterpreting data with different formats, allowing multiple ways to view the same storage, while the RENAMES clause provides alternate names to data items, giving them multiple identifiers without changing the storage.
In indexed file processing, what is the role of the index or key in accessing records?
- It is a secondary field used for display purposes only
- It is not relevant in indexed file processing
- It is used for sorting records within the file
- It is used to uniquely identify each record and determine its storage location
The index or key in indexed file processing serves as a unique identifier for each record, allowing the system to locate and retrieve the desired record efficiently. It facilitates quick and direct access to records based on the specified key.
When using the REDEFINES clause in COBOL, what happens to the memory occupied by the redefined data items?
- It is deallocated
- It is marked as read-only
- It is reallocated with a new address
- It is shared with the original data item
When the REDEFINES clause is used in COBOL, the memory occupied by the redefined data items is shared with the memory of the original data item. This means both the original and redefined data items refer to the same memory location, enabling different ways to interpret the stored data.
________ is a technique used in COBOL to ensure data integrity during exceptional situations.
- Checkpoint
- Recovery
- Restart
- Rollback
Recovery is a technique used in COBOL to ensure data integrity during exceptional situations. It involves actions such as rollback, checkpoint, or restart to bring the system back to a consistent state after an exception.