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.
When should you use record-level locking as opposed to file-level locking in a COBOL application?
- When multiple users need to access different records within the same file concurrently
- When only one user is expected to access the file at a time
- When the file is read-only and no updates are required
- When the file is small and doesn't require any locking
Record-level locking in COBOL is preferred when multiple users need to access different records within the same file concurrently. This approach allows for more granular control over the locking mechanism, reducing contention and improving system efficiency.
What is the key difference between VSAM and ISAM file organizations in COBOL?
- ISAM provides better performance than VSAM
- VSAM allows for direct access to records based on a key, while ISAM supports sequential access only
- VSAM and ISAM both use the same file organization
- VSAM is only used for read operations, while ISAM is used for both read and write operations
The key difference between VSAM and ISAM is that VSAM allows for direct access to records based on a key, enabling quick retrieval of specific records, while ISAM supports sequential access only, requiring the records to be read in order.
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.