You are working on a COBOL application that handles variable-length records in an employee database. Each record contains a variable number of dependents. How would you dynamically calculate the length of each record based on the number of dependents?
- DEPENDING ON
- LINAGE IS 66
- OCCURS
- RECORDING MODE IS V
The DEPENDING ON clause in COBOL is used to dynamically calculate the length of a record based on the value specified in another field. In this case, the number of dependents would determine the length of each record, allowing for flexibility in handling variable-length data.
You are developing a COBOL program that reads data from an external file. What would you do if the file does not exist when you attempt to open it?
- Check the FILE STATUS after the OPEN statement
- Perform a manual check using IF conditions
- Use the INVALID KEY clause in the file control entry
- Utilize the EXIT PROGRAM statement
When attempting to open a file, using the INVALID KEY clause in the file control entry allows you to handle the situation where the file does not exist. You can specify a set of actions to be taken if the file opening fails, providing a mechanism for graceful error handling.
In COBOL, to open a file for both reading and writing, you typically use the _____ access mode.
- EXTEND
- I-O
- INPUT
- OUTPUT
The I-O (Input-Output) access mode in COBOL is used to open a file for both reading and writing operations. This allows the program to perform a combination of read and write operations on the same file.
In COBOL, what are the advantages of using subprograms?
- Code Reusability, Maintainability, and Improved Readability
- Enhanced Input/Output Operations
- Improved Control Flow
- Increased Program Complexity, Slower Execution
Using subprograms in COBOL offers advantages such as code reusability, maintainability, and improved readability. By breaking down a program into smaller modules, developers can reuse code segments, making it easier to maintain and understand the program.
Your COBOL program handles financial data, and you need to convert numeric amounts to their equivalent string representations. Which COBOL intrinsic function is suitable for this task?
- FUNCTION NUMVAL
- FUNCTION NUMCHECK
- FUNCTION NUMERIC
- FUNCTION EDIT
The FUNCTION EDIT intrinsic function in COBOL is suitable for converting numeric amounts to their equivalent string representations. It provides formatting options for numeric data, making it useful in financial applications.
In COBOL, the ________ statement is used for performing complex arithmetic operations.
- ADD
- COMPUTE
- MOVE
- PERFORM
The COMPUTE statement in COBOL is used for performing complex arithmetic operations involving multiple variables. It allows for the execution of arithmetic expressions with various mathematical operators.
You are working on a COBOL project that involves reading and processing multiple bank transactions, each with various details like transaction type, date, and amount. How would you structure the data using group data items in COBOL?
- Arrange the data using JUSTIFIED alignment
- Group each transaction detail under a single name using a GROUP data item
- Use OCCURS to repeat the transaction details for each record
- Utilize REDEFINES to redefine the transaction details
In a COBOL project involving multiple bank transactions, grouping each transaction detail under a single name using the GROUP data item is a suitable approach. This allows you to organize and access related information like transaction type, date, and amount efficiently.
When working with arithmetic operations in COBOL, the ________ statement is used to control the flow of execution based on conditions.
- ADD
- EVALUATE
- MOVE
- PERFORM
The EVALUATE statement in COBOL is used for conditional execution based on the result of arithmetic operations. It allows for a concise and readable way to handle multiple conditions.
When using a relative file organization, the _____ number is used to access records.
- File
- Index
- Record
- Relative
In a relative file organization in COBOL, the relative record number is used to access records. This number specifies the position of the record relative to the beginning of the file, allowing for direct access to specific records.
In COBOL, the REDEFINES clause is often employed for optimizing memory usage, especially when working with _____
- Arrays
- Binary data
- Complex structures
- Numeric
The REDEFINES clause in COBOL is used to allow different data items to share the same storage space. This is particularly useful when working with complex structures to optimize memory usage.