The ________ feature in VSAM allows you to access records directly by their key, improving retrieval speed.
- Direct Access
- Dynamic Access
- Indexed Access
- Sequential Access
The Direct Access feature in VSAM enables the direct retrieval of records based on their key, enhancing retrieval speed compared to sequential access methods. It is particularly useful when you need quick access to specific records without scanning the entire file sequentially.
You are working on a mission-critical COBOL program for a banking application. During testing, an unexpected error occurs. Which statement should you use to gracefully handle this error without terminating the program?
- CONTINUE
- EXIT METHOD
- EXIT PROGRAM
- STOP RUN
In this scenario, the CONTINUE statement in COBOL is used to gracefully handle errors without terminating the program. It allows the program to proceed with the next statement, providing a mechanism for error handling without program termination.
In COBOL, file locking is essential to prevent _______ conflicts when multiple users access the same file concurrently.
- Access
- Data
- Resource
- System
File locking in COBOL is crucial to prevent resource conflicts when multiple users attempt to access the same file simultaneously. It ensures data integrity and prevents issues such as data corruption or inconsistency due to concurrent access.
You are designing a COBOL program to manage a customer database. What file organization would you choose for the master file to allow efficient random access to customer records?
- Indexed
- Line Sequential
- Relative
- Sequential
For efficient random access, an Indexed file organization is suitable for a master file in COBOL. It uses an index to allow direct access to records based on a key, optimizing retrieval times.
In COBOL, what does the MERGE statement allow you to do with files?
- Combine two or more sorted files into a single sorted file
- Concatenate multiple files without sorting
- Merge two files with different record structures
- Separate a file into multiple smaller files
The MERGE statement in COBOL allows you to combine two or more sorted files into a single sorted file. It is useful for merging data from different sources while maintaining the sorted order.
In COBOL, which clause is commonly used to establish a connection to a database?
- EXEC SQL CONNECT
- FILE SECTION
- LINKAGE SECTION
- WORKING-STORAGE SECTION
The EXEC SQL CONNECT clause in COBOL is commonly used to establish a connection to a database. It initiates communication between the COBOL program and the specified database, allowing for subsequent SQL operations.
What is a COBOL constant?
- A reserved word in COBOL
- A subroutine in COBOL
- A value that remains unchanged during the execution of the program
- A variable with a changing value
In COBOL, a constant is a value that remains unchanged during the execution of the program. It is typically used for storing fixed values like literals or predefined constants, providing a way to assign fixed data to variables.
What is the difference between the LOCAL-STORAGE and WORKING-STORAGE sections in COBOL in terms of variable scope?
- There is no difference; both sections serve the same purpose
- Variables declared in the LOCAL-STORAGE section are automatically initialized, while variables in the WORKING-STORAGE section are not
- Variables declared in the LOCAL-STORAGE section have program scope, while variables in the WORKING-STORAGE section have procedure scope
- Variables declared in the WORKING-STORAGE section have program scope, while variables in the LOCAL-STORAGE section have procedure scope
The primary difference between the LOCAL-STORAGE and WORKING-STORAGE sections in COBOL is the scope of the variables declared within them. Variables declared in the WORKING-STORAGE section have program scope, meaning they are accessible to all procedures within the program. On the other hand, variables declared in the LOCAL-STORAGE section have procedure scope, meaning they are only accessible within the specific procedure where they are declared.
Which data type in COBOL is suitable for representing textual information?
- BOOLEAN
- CHARACTER
- DECIMAL
- INTEGER
The CHARACTER data type in COBOL is used for representing textual information, such as letters, numbers, and symbols.
In COBOL, what is the purpose of the "ENVIRONMENT DIVISION"?
- 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 "ENVIRONMENT DIVISION" in COBOL is responsible for specifying the file structure and access mode for all files used in the program. It sets up the environment for the program's execution by providing information about the files it will use.