When processing multiple files in a COBOL program, you encounter an exception in one file but want to continue processing the other files without interruption. How can you achieve this?
- Implement exception handling with the EXIT PROGRAM statement
- Set the FILE STATUS to 'OK' manually
- Use the CONTINUE statement after error handling
- Use the NOT ON EXCEPTION clause in the file control entry
To continue processing other files without interruption in case of an exception in one file, you can use the NOT ON EXCEPTION clause in the file control entry. This allows the program to skip the file that has an exception and continue processing the next files.
The "ENVIRONMENT DIVISION" includes the "CONFIGURATION SECTION," which specifies the _____ for the program.
- All of the above
- Configuration settings
- Input parameters
- Output requirements
The "ENVIRONMENT DIVISION" in COBOL includes the "CONFIGURATION SECTION," which specifies configuration settings for the program, such as input parameters and output requirements.
In a COBOL program, what is the significance of the "PROCEDURE DIVISION"?
- It contains the actual executable statements of the program
- It contains the data declarations for variables used in the program
- It declares the data types used in the program
- It specifies the inputs and outputs of the program
The "PROCEDURE DIVISION" in COBOL contains the actual executable statements of the program. It is where the logic and processing instructions are written to perform the desired tasks.
How can you make a variable accessible to multiple programs within a COBOL application?
- By declaring the variable in the FILE SECTION of each program
- By declaring the variable in the LOCAL-STORAGE section of each program
- By declaring the variable in the WORKING-STORAGE section of each program
- By passing the variable as a parameter between programs
To make a variable accessible to multiple programs within a COBOL application, you can pass the variable as a parameter between programs. This allows the programs to share data during execution, facilitating communication and coordination between them.
What is the difference between a record and a structure in COBOL?
- A record in COBOL refers to a logical unit of data, typically representing a complete set of related fields. A structure, on the other hand, is a collection of data items, including records, organized in a specific way.
- A record is a collection of fields with similar attributes, while a structure is a set of related records grouped together.
- A structure in COBOL is synonymous with a record.
- Records are used for sequential processing, whereas structures are used for random access processing.
In COBOL, a record represents a logical unit of data often composed of related fields. A structure is a more general term referring to an organized collection of data items, which may include records. The difference lies in the abstraction level and organization of data.
The _____ statement is used to invoke a subprogram in COBOL.
- ACCEPT
- CALL
- LINKAGE
- PERFORM
In COBOL, the CALL statement is used to invoke a subprogram. It transfers control to the specified subprogram and executes the statements within it.
How does the PERFORM UNTIL statement differ from the PERFORM VARYING statement in COBOL?
- Both statements are identical and can be used interchangeably
- PERFORM UNTIL executes the loop until a condition is true, while PERFORM VARYING iterates over a range of values
- PERFORM UNTIL is used for nested loops, and PERFORM VARYING is used for single loops
- PERFORM VARYING executes the loop until a condition is true, while PERFORM UNTIL iterates over a range of values
The PERFORM UNTIL statement in COBOL executes the loop until a specified condition is true, whereas PERFORM VARYING iterates over a range of values for a loop variable. They serve different purposes in controlling loop execution.
How can you ensure proper cleanup and closing of files in COBOL, even when exceptions occur?
- Automatically handled by COBOL runtime
- Ignoring file closure in the presence of exceptions
- Implementing a separate cleanup routine for files
- Utilizing the "USE AFTER EXCEPTION" phrase with the CLOSE statement
To ensure proper cleanup and closing of files in COBOL, even when exceptions occur, developers can implement a separate cleanup routine for files. This routine should be responsible for closing files and performing any necessary cleanup actions, promoting resource management and program stability.
To subtract one numeric value from another in COBOL, you would use the _____ statement.
- ADD
- DIVIDE
- MULTIPLY
- SUBTRACT
The SUBTRACT statement in COBOL is used for performing subtraction operations. It subtracts the content of one or more numeric fields from another, updating the result field.
Your COBOL program needs to generate reports with date and time stamps in a specific format for different regions. How would you approach formatting date and time values for these reports?
- Implement a custom date and time formatting subroutine
- Leverage platform-specific formatting functions
- Use COBOL FORMAT statement with customized date and time picture clauses
- Use COBOL intrinsic function FORMAT-TIME
To format date and time values for reports, you can use the COBOL FORMAT statement with customized date and time picture clauses. This allows you to control the output format based on the specific requirements of different regions.