The _____ clause allows a variable to be shared among multiple programs in a COBOL application.
- COMMON
- EXTERNAL
- GLOBAL
- SHARED
The COMMON clause in COBOL is used to declare a variable that can be shared among multiple programs within the same application. This allows data sharing between different parts of a COBOL program.
What is the role of the "DATA DIVISION" in a COBOL program?
- Contains the procedures and logic of the program
- Declares the data items used in the program
- Defines the working storage section
- Specifies the file structure and access mode for all files used in the program
The "DATA DIVISION" in COBOL is used for declaring the data items that the program will use. It defines the structure of data, such as records and fields, and their characteristics.
The CURRENT-DATE special register stores the current _____ and _____.
- Date and Time
- Day and Month
- Month and Year
- Year and Time
The CURRENT-DATE special register in COBOL stores the current date and time, providing a convenient way to capture the system date and time when a program is executed.
How does the EXIT statement differ from the CONTINUE statement in COBOL error handling?
- CONTINUE is used to exit the program
- CONTINUE is used to transfer control to the next statement
- EXIT is used to exit a specific paragraph or section
- EXIT is used to terminate the entire program
The EXIT statement in COBOL is used to exit a specific paragraph or section, providing a structured way to control the flow of the program. In contrast, the CONTINUE statement simply transfers control to the next statement without any conditional checks.
What is the primary purpose of integrating COBOL with a database system?
- To efficiently manage and store large volumes of data
- To enhance the user interface of COBOL programs
- To facilitate communication with hardware devices
- To improve program execution speed
Integrating COBOL with a database system allows for the efficient management and storage of large volumes of data. It enables the seamless interaction between COBOL programs and databases, supporting data retrieval, storage, and manipulation.
Your COBOL program requires accessing records based on a unique identifier. Which file organization type should you implement?
- Indexed
- Line Sequential
- Relative
- Sequential
When accessing records based on a unique identifier, the Indexed file organization is ideal in COBOL. It facilitates direct access to records using the key, optimizing retrieval based on the unique identifier.
The "Input" file access mode is primarily used for _____ data from a file in COBOL.
- Deleting
- Reading
- Updating
- Writing
The "Input" file access mode in COBOL is used for reading data from a file. It allows the program to retrieve information stored in a file and process it within the program.
What is the role of interfaces in Object-Oriented COBOL, and how are they different from classes?
- Interfaces are used only for input/output operations.
- Interfaces can be instantiated like classes.
- Interfaces define common behavior, and they cannot have attributes.
- Interfaces have the same characteristics as abstract classes.
In Object-Oriented COBOL, interfaces define common behavior that can be implemented by multiple classes. Unlike classes, interfaces cannot have attributes; they only declare methods. Classes can implement multiple interfaces, enabling them to exhibit behavior from different sources. Interfaces promote a higher level of abstraction and facilitate code modularity and flexibility.
In a COBOL program for inventory management, you have to define a data structure for product information with several attributes. Which COBOL clause would be suitable for this purpose?
- GROUP
- OCCURS
- RECORD
- REDEFINES
The GROUP clause in COBOL is used to define a data structure that consists of multiple elementary and group data items. It allows you to group related fields together to represent complex data structures, such as product information in inventory management.
How does exclusive file locking differ from shared file locking in terms of access permissions?
- Exclusive locks allow both reading and writing by multiple programs, while shared locks only permit reading.
- Exclusive locks allow only one program to read the file at a time, while shared locks permit multiple programs to write simultaneously.
- Exclusive locks grant exclusive access, preventing other programs from reading or writing to the file. Shared locks allow multiple programs to read the file simultaneously but prevent any program from writing to it.
- Exclusive locks restrict both reading and writing, while shared locks allow unlimited access.
Exclusive file locking provides exclusive access to a file, meaning only one program can read or write to it, preventing concurrent access conflicts. Shared file locking, on the other hand, allows multiple programs to read the file simultaneously, enhancing concurrent access for reading purposes.