In COBOL, what is a "watchpoint" used for during debugging?
- To display the program's output
- To identify syntax errors
- To monitor and break execution when a specified condition is met
- To skip certain lines of code during debugging
A "watchpoint" in COBOL debugging is used to monitor and break program execution when a specific condition is met. This helps programmers observe the program's behavior under certain circumstances and analyze variables or conditions at a specific point in the code.
Which COBOL statement is used for subtracting one numeric value from another?
- ADD
- DIVIDE
- MULTIPLY
- SUBTRACT
The SUBTRACT statement in COBOL is used to subtract one numeric value from another. It is a fundamental arithmetic operation in COBOL and supports various formats for different types of numeric data.
In a complex COBOL application, you encounter a situation where two different parts of the program need to access the same data item but interpret it differently. How can you achieve this using the REDEFINES clause?
- Create multiple 01-level records with different REDEFINES clauses
- Declare the data item with OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause
- Use 88-level condition names for each interpretation
- Utilize a nested data structure with REDEFINES clause
To have two different interpretations of the same data item in different parts of a program, you can use the REDEFINES clause within a nested data structure. This allows you to define multiple views of the same data item without conflicting interpretations.
When implementing exception handling in COBOL, the _______ statement is used to propagate an exception to higher-level routines.
- PROPAGATE
- RAISE
- SIGNAL
- THROW
The PROPAGATE statement in COBOL is used to propagate an exception to higher-level routines. It allows the handling of exceptions at different levels in the program hierarchy.
In COBOL, a record represents a ___________ data structure.
- Hierarchical
- Linear
- Relational
- Sequential
In COBOL, a record represents a Sequential data structure. Sequential records are stored one after the other, and each record contains fields that represent the data elements in a specific order.
In COBOL, a multi-dimensional array is often referred to as a _____ array.
- COMP
- GROUP
- INDEX
- OCCURS
In COBOL, when you define a multi-dimensional array, you use the OCCURS clause to specify the number of occurrences for each dimension. This creates a matrix-like structure, often referred to as an OCCURS array.
You are tasked with implementing a COBOL program that calculates employee bonuses based on performance ratings. Which COBOL statement or construct from the Procedure Division would you use for this task?
- EVALUATE statement
- INITIALIZE statement
- PERFORM...THRU
- SEARCH statement
The EVALUATE statement in COBOL is suitable for handling multiple conditions, making it ideal for calculating employee bonuses based on various performance ratings. It allows for a structured way to evaluate different conditions and execute corresponding code blocks.
Which COBOL statement is used to raise an exception explicitly in a program?
- DISPLAY
- MOVE
- PERFORM
- SIGNAL
The SIGNAL statement in COBOL is used to raise an exception explicitly in a program. It is used to indicate abnormal conditions that need special handling.
How can duplicate records in a COBOL file be identified?
- By comparing each record with a master file
- By performing a sequential search in the file
- By using the DUPLICATES phrase in the SELECT statement
- By utilizing the ALTERNATE KEY clause
Duplicate records in a COBOL file can be identified by using the DUPLICATES phrase in the SELECT statement. This allows the program to detect and handle records with identical key values efficiently.
What is the primary purpose of the COBOL Procedure Division?
- To declare data elements
- To define the file structure
- To handle program termination
- To specify the processing logic for the program
The COBOL Procedure Division is used to specify the processing logic for the program. It contains the statements that define the sequence of operations to be performed during program execution.