You are tasked with parsing and modifying a text field in a COBOL program. Which COBOL statement can help you achieve this?
- INSPECT statement
- PERFORM VARYING statement
- STRING statement
- UNSTRING statement
The UNSTRING statement in COBOL is used for parsing and extracting portions of a text field. It allows you to break down a text field into smaller components based on specified delimiters, enabling you to modify or manipulate the text as needed.
When implementing error handling, what are the advantages of using the "HANDLE CONDITION" phrase?
- Avoids the need for error handling altogether
- Optimizes program performance
- Provides a centralized mechanism to handle multiple exceptions
- Simplifies the debugging process
The "HANDLE CONDITION" phrase in COBOL provides a centralized mechanism for handling multiple exceptions. It allows the program to define specific actions for different error conditions, improving code readability and maintainability.
How do you handle record updates and deletions in an indexed file system like VSAM using COBOL?
- Use the DELETE verb for record deletion and the WRITE verb for record updates.
- Use the READ verb with UPDATE option for record updates and DELETE for record deletions.
- Use the MODIFY statement for both record updates and deletions.
- Use the REWRITE verb for record updates and DELETE verb for record deletions.
In VSAM and other indexed file systems, the READ verb with UPDATE option is used for record updates, and DELETE verb is used for record deletions. The MODIFY statement is not used for direct updates or deletions in this context.
How can you efficiently remove duplicate records from a COBOL file while preserving data integrity?
- Ignoring duplicate records during file reading
- Implementing logic to skip duplicate records during file processing
- Using the COPY statement to create a file without duplicates
- Utilizing the DELETE statement in COBOL
To efficiently remove duplicate records from a COBOL file while preserving data integrity, you can implement logic within your program to skip duplicate records during file processing. This ensures that only unique records are considered, maintaining data integrity.
In a COBOL application, you need to maintain a record of sales transactions for multiple products and store them efficiently. Which type of COBOL data structure would be most suitable for this scenario, and why?
- Array
- Both Array and Table
- Neither Array nor Table
- Table
A table in COBOL would be the preferred choice for maintaining sales transactions for multiple products. A table allows for easy expansion to accommodate new products without requiring modifications to the program structure, providing a scalable and efficient solution.
You are developing a COBOL application to read and process data from a CSV file. Which COBOL Procedure Division statement(s) would be essential in this scenario?
- ACCEPT statement
- OPEN INPUT/OUTPUT
- PARSE statement
- READ...AT END
The PARSE statement in COBOL is essential for processing CSV files. It allows you to break down a delimited input record into individual fields, making it suitable for handling comma-separated values in the context of reading and processing CSV files.
In COBOL, the ____________ operation can be used to efficiently merge and process large sorted files.
- Add
- Merge
- Merge-Sort
- SORT
The SORT verb in COBOL is used for sorting files. It efficiently merges and processes large sorted files, ensuring data integrity and facilitating various operations like merging, copying, and rearranging records.
When using the MOVE statement in COBOL, what happens if the source field is larger than the receiving field?
- An error is generated, and the program terminates
- The MOVE statement automatically resizes the receiving field to match the source field
- The MOVE statement ignores the excess characters in the source field
- Truncation occurs, and only the leftmost characters that fit in the receiving field are moved
In COBOL, if the source field is larger than the receiving field during the MOVE statement, truncation occurs. Only the leftmost characters that fit in the receiving field will be moved, and the excess characters are ignored. It's essential to ensure field sizes match or handle truncation appropriately.
In COBOL, can you nest multiple "IF" statements within each other?
- Nesting "IF" statements is allowed, but only with "EVALUATE" statements
- Nesting "IF" statements is possible, but only with the use of "ELSE" clauses
- No, COBOL does not support nested "IF" statements
- Yes, "IF" statements can be nested to create more complex conditional structures
Yes, in COBOL, "IF" statements can be nested within each other to create more complex conditional structures. This allows for handling intricate logic by nesting conditions based on specific requirements.
You are developing a COBOL program for an online banking system. What type of exception handling approach would you use to ensure that transactions are rolled back in case of errors during fund transfers?
- Implementing a nested IF statement
- Utilizing the declarative exception handling with the USE AFTER option
- Employing the EXIT PROGRAM statement
- Using the COBOL ON EXCEPTION clause
In this scenario, declarative exception handling with the USE AFTER option is appropriate. It allows you to define a set of statements that execute after a specific exception occurs, ensuring proper rollback of transactions in case of errors during fund transfers.