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.
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.
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.
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.
The ________ clause in COBOL is used to specify the number of times a group data item can occur.
- DEPENDING ON
- INDEXED BY
- OCCURS
- REDEFINES
The OCCURS clause in COBOL is used to specify the number of times a group data item or an elementary data item can occur in a table or an array. It defines the occurrence of a particular data item or group.
When performing database operations, the _____ statement is used to commit changes to the database.
- COMMIT WORK
- EXEC SQL COMMIT
- EXEC SQL ROLLBACK
- ROLLBACK WORK
When performing database operations, the COMMIT WORK statement is used in COBOL to commit changes made during the transaction to the database. It ensures the changes are permanently saved.
To improve performance, COBOL programs often use file ____________ to temporarily store records during processing.
- Archiving
- Buffering
- Indexing
- Sorting
Buffering is a technique used in COBOL to enhance performance by temporarily storing records in memory during processing. It reduces the need for frequent disk access, thereby optimizing I/O operations.
The EXIT statement can include a numeric operand that specifies the ___________ code to return to the operating system.
- Completion
- Error
- Exit
- Return
The EXIT statement in COBOL can include a numeric operand that specifies the exit code to return to the operating system. This allows the program to communicate its completion status to the calling environment.
When using the REDEFINES clause, it's essential to ensure that the redefined data items have the same starting _____
- Data Types
- Lengths
- Names
- Values
Ensuring that redefined data items have the same starting lengths is crucial when using the REDEFINES clause in COBOL. It helps in preventing data misalignment and memory allocation issues.
The _____ clause is used to specify the file organization for a COBOL file.
- DATA DIVISION
- ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
- FILE-CONTROL
- RECORDING MODE
In COBOL, the FILE-CONTROL clause is used to specify the organization of files. It includes clauses like SELECT and ASSIGN, allowing you to define the file structure and its associated external resources.