When using a PERFORM loop with the VARYING clause, the _______ clause determines how the loop control variable changes in each iteration.
- BY
- FROM
- THRU
- VARYING
In a PERFORM loop with the VARYING clause, the BY clause determines the increment or decrement applied to the loop control variable in each iteration. It specifies the step size for the loop.
When formatting dates for user display, the _____ format ensures readability across different locales.
- DD-MM-YYYY
- MM/DD/YYYY
- YYYY-MM-DD
- YYYYMMDD
The DD-MM-YYYY format is used for displaying dates to ensure readability across different locales. This format is less ambiguous and aligns with the day-month-year order commonly used in various regions.
In COBOL, what does a relative file allow you to do that a sequential file does not?
- Directly access any record using a record number
- Perform arithmetic operations on file records
- Process records sequentially
- Read records in the order they were added to the file
A relative file in COBOL allows direct access to any record in the file using a record number. This provides the ability to retrieve or modify specific records without the need to sequentially process the entire file.
Your COBOL program needs to process and merge two massive files containing stock market data, ensuring the merged data is in chronological order. What considerations should you keep in mind while implementing the MERGE operation?
- All of the above
- Allocate sufficient memory for sorting
- Ensure input files are sorted
- Use proper key fields for sorting
All of the above considerations are important while implementing the MERGE operation. Ensuring that input files are sorted, defining proper key fields, and allocating sufficient memory are crucial steps to ensure the merged data is in chronological order.
COBOL allows the use of logical operators like _____ in conditional statements.
- AND
- NOT
- OR
- XOR
COBOL allows the use of logical operators like AND, OR, and NOT in conditional statements. These operators enable the creation of complex conditions by combining multiple logical expressions.
You are developing a COBOL program to calculate the total sales for a retail store. Which COBOL statement would you use to add the sales amounts from multiple transactions?
- ADD statement
- COMPUTE statement
- MULTIPLY statement
- SUM statement
In COBOL, the ADD statement is used to perform arithmetic addition. It is suitable for adding sales amounts from multiple transactions to calculate the total sales in a retail store program. The COMPUTE statement is more versatile but ADD is commonly used for simple additions.
In a COBOL program, you encounter a situation where a variable declared in one paragraph needs to be accessed by another paragraph within the same procedure. How would you achieve this while maintaining good coding practices?
- Declare the variable in the DATA DIVISION
- Pass the variable as a parameter
- Use of global variables
- Use of static variables
To maintain good coding practices, it's advisable to pass the variable as a parameter to the paragraph that needs to access it. This promotes modular and reusable code, reduces coupling between paragraphs, and enhances code readability and maintainability.
In COBOL, which file control verb is used to read records from an open file?
- CLOSE
- OPEN
- READ
- WRITE
In COBOL, the READ verb is used to read records from an open file. It allows the program to retrieve data sequentially from the file and process it.
What are some potential advantages and disadvantages of using the REDEFINES clause in COBOL programming?
- Advantages include efficient memory usage, but it may lead to complexity and maintenance challenges
- Advantages include simplified data structures, but it may result in increased memory consumption
- Disadvantages include enhanced code maintainability, but it may lead to reduced efficiency
- Disadvantages include improved code readability, but it may cause performance issues
The REDEFINES clause in COBOL offers advantages such as efficient memory usage by sharing storage space. However, it can introduce complexity in understanding data structures and might pose challenges during maintenance. Understanding the trade-offs is crucial for effective use in COBOL programming.
What are some potential challenges when working with large datasets in COBOL SORT and MERGE operations?
- All of the above
- Increased processing time
- Insufficient memory for sorting
- Limited disk space for temporary files
Working with large datasets in COBOL SORT and MERGE operations can pose challenges like insufficient memory, limited disk space, and increased processing time due to the complexity of sorting and merging large amounts of data.