What is the role of the RETURN statement in the COBOL Procedure Division?
- It is used to define a return value for a function
- It is used to exit a paragraph or section and return control to the calling program
- It is used to return a value from a called subroutine
- It is used to terminate the entire COBOL program
The RETURN statement in COBOL is used to exit a paragraph or section, returning control to the calling program. It is essential for managing program flow and ensuring proper execution.
________ is a technique used in COBOL to ensure data integrity during exceptional situations.
- Checkpoint
- Recovery
- Restart
- Rollback
Recovery is a technique used in COBOL to ensure data integrity during exceptional situations. It involves actions such as rollback, checkpoint, or restart to bring the system back to a consistent state after an exception.
When using the REDEFINES clause in COBOL, what happens to the memory occupied by the redefined data items?
- It is deallocated
- It is marked as read-only
- It is reallocated with a new address
- It is shared with the original data item
When the REDEFINES clause is used in COBOL, the memory occupied by the redefined data items is shared with the memory of the original data item. This means both the original and redefined data items refer to the same memory location, enabling different ways to interpret the stored data.
In indexed file processing, what is the role of the index or key in accessing records?
- It is a secondary field used for display purposes only
- It is not relevant in indexed file processing
- It is used for sorting records within the file
- It is used to uniquely identify each record and determine its storage location
The index or key in indexed file processing serves as a unique identifier for each record, allowing the system to locate and retrieve the desired record efficiently. It facilitates quick and direct access to records based on the specified key.
What is the key difference between the REDEFINES clause and the RENAMES clause in COBOL?
- Both clauses serve the same purpose
- REDEFINES is used for reinterpreting data with different formats, while RENAMES is used for providing alternate names to data items
- REDEFINES is used only for numeric data items, while RENAMES is used for alphanumeric data items
- RENAMES is used for reinterpreting data with different formats, while REDEFINES is used for providing alternate names to data items
The key difference is that the REDEFINES clause is used for reinterpreting data with different formats, allowing multiple ways to view the same storage, while the RENAMES clause provides alternate names to data items, giving them multiple identifiers without changing the storage.
The _______ clause is used to define the format of the index or key field in COBOL indexed files.
- DATA
- KEY
- LENGTH
- RECORD
The KEY clause in COBOL is used to define the format of the index or key field in indexed files. It specifies the data item that serves as the key for organizing and accessing records in the file.
Which data types can the OCCURS clause be applied to in COBOL?
- Group items and elementary items
- Only alphabetic data types
- Only elementary items
- Only numeric data types
The OCCURS clause in COBOL can be applied to both group items and elementary items. It allows the definition of repeating data structures for both simple and complex data types, providing flexibility in handling repeated data.
What is the difference between a figurative constant and a user-defined constant in COBOL?
- Figurative constants are declared using the CONSTANT keyword, while user-defined constants use the VALUE clause
- Figurative constants are numeric, and user-defined constants are alphanumeric
- Figurative constants represent predefined values like ZERO and SPACE, while user-defined constants are explicitly defined by the programmer using the VALUE clause
- There is no difference between figurative and user-defined constants in COBOL
Figurative constants in COBOL represent predefined values like ZERO, SPACE, etc. User-defined constants are explicitly defined by the programmer using the VALUE clause in the DATA DIVISION.
The Data Division in COBOL is responsible for describing the structure and ________ of data items used in the program.
- Characteristics
- Format
- Organization
- Organization and Storage
The Data Division in COBOL describes both the structure and organization of data items. It defines how data is stored, such as the length, type, and arrangement of fields within records.
To perform mathematical calculations with intrinsic functions, you often use the FUNCTION _______ function.
- ABS
- ARITHMETIC
- NUMERIC
- NUMVAL
The FUNCTION NUMVAL in COBOL is commonly used to convert a numeric string into its numeric value, enabling mathematical calculations. It plays a crucial role in arithmetic operations involving numeric data.