Advanced COBOL programmers may use the _____ construct to improve code readability and maintainability.
- EVALUATE
- GOTO
- PERFORM
- POINTER
The EVALUATE statement in COBOL is a powerful construct that allows advanced programmers to create structured and readable code for complex conditional logic. It is often preferred over nested IF statements for better code organization.
You are developing a COBOL program to process customer orders. If the order total is greater than $1000, you want to apply a 10% discount; otherwise, no discount is applied. Which COBOL conditional statement is suitable for this scenario?
- EVALUATE
- IF...ELSE
- PERFORM VARYING
- SET
In this scenario, the IF...ELSE statement in COBOL is appropriate. It allows you to make a binary decision based on whether the order total is greater than $1000, enabling you to apply the discount conditionally.
In a COBOL program that reads data from a file, you encounter an "AT END" condition. What action should be taken to handle this error gracefully?
- Use the CONTINUE statement
- Use the EXIT PROGRAM statement
- Use the FILE STATUS clause
- Use the READ NEXT statement
When encountering an "AT END" condition in COBOL, using the CONTINUE statement is a graceful way to handle the error. It allows the program to continue processing without terminating, providing an opportunity to take appropriate actions.
How do you declare a numeric variable in COBOL?
- Using the OCCURS clause
- Using the PIC clause with a numeric editing character
- Using the REDEFINES clause
- Using the VALUE clause
In COBOL, a numeric variable is declared using the PIC (Picture) clause followed by a suitable format, specifying the size and type of the variable. Numeric editing characters, such as 9, are used to represent numeric values.
When working with dates in COBOL, the FUNCTION _______ intrinsic function helps with date arithmetic.
- INTEGER
- DATE-OF-INTEGER
- DATE
- DAY-OF-THE-WEEK
The correct option is DATE-OF-INTEGER. This intrinsic function in COBOL is used to obtain the date representation of an integer value, facilitating date arithmetic operations.
The _____ section in the DATA DIVISION is used for defining variables with a scope that spans the entire program.
- FILE
- FILE-CONTROL
- LINKAGE
- WORKING-STORAGE
In COBOL, the WORKING-STORAGE section in the DATA DIVISION is used for defining variables with a scope that spans the entire program. Variables declared under WORKING-STORAGE are accessible throughout the program's execution.
The COBOL SORT statement requires the use of an _____ PROCEDURE to perform actions on records during the sorting process.
- EXCEPTION
- I/O
- INPUT
- OUTPUT
The SORT statement in COBOL requires an OUTPUT PROCEDURE. This procedure defines the actions to be performed on records during the sorting process, such as writing sorted records to an output file.
How can you implement error recovery strategies in a COBOL program to minimize data loss during exceptions?
- Use backup files and transaction logging
- Rely solely on manual intervention for data recovery
- Ignore errors and continue program execution
- Implement proper exception handling routines and rollback mechanisms
To minimize data loss during exceptions in a COBOL program, it is essential to implement error recovery strategies. This includes the use of proper exception handling routines, ensuring data integrity through rollback mechanisms, and incorporating backup files and transaction logging for comprehensive recovery options.
In COBOL file handling, what is the purpose of the "Extend" access mode?
- It allows sequential reading of records
- It enables direct access to any record in the file
- It is used to add new records at the end of a file
- It is used to open a file for both reading and writing
The "Extend" access mode in COBOL is used to add new records at the end of a file. It is particularly useful when you want to append data to an existing file without overwriting or modifying the existing records.
You're working on optimizing the memory usage of a COBOL program that deals with large data structures. Explain how the REDEFINES clause can be a valuable tool in this optimization process.
- Apply REDEFINES to create alternative views of the same data
- Leverage REDEFINES to dynamically allocate memory during runtime
- Use REDEFINES to eliminate unused portions of a data structure
- Utilize REDEFINES to create recursive data structures
The REDEFINES clause is valuable in optimizing memory usage as it allows the creation of alternative views of the same data. By overlaying different parts of the data structure, you can conserve memory by avoiding redundant storage for common elements.