The CONTINUE statement is primarily used for __________ error handling in COBOL programs.
- General
- Specific
- Structured
- Systematic
The CONTINUE statement in COBOL is primarily used for specific error handling. It allows the program to continue processing even if an error condition is encountered, providing a mechanism for graceful recovery.
What is the purpose of the REDEFINES clause in COBOL?
- To define an alternate entry point in a program
- To redefine a data item with a new name
- To reorganize data items for better performance
- To share storage space between two or more data items
The REDEFINES clause in COBOL is used to share storage space between two or more data items. It allows different data items to occupy the same storage location, enabling data reusability and flexibility.
In a COBOL program, you need to write records to a file, and you want to handle write errors gracefully. Which COBOL file control verb allows you to do this?
- CLOSE
- REWRITE
- START
- WRITE
The REWRITE verb in COBOL is used to rewrite records in a file. It is particularly useful for updating existing records in a file. When used with appropriate error handling techniques, it allows graceful handling of write errors in a COBOL program.
In a COBOL application, you are tasked with processing inventory items. Each item has a varying quantity that you need to update. Which type of PERFORM loop should you use, and how would you implement it?
- PERFORM THRU loop
- PERFORM UNTIL loop
- PERFORM VARYING loop
- PERFORM WITH TEST BEFORE loop
A PERFORM VARYING loop would be appropriate for processing inventory items with varying quantities. This loop type is useful when you need to iterate over a range of values. In this case, you can use it to iterate through the inventory items, updating the quantity for each item in the loop body.
Which COBOL file access mode is commonly used with VSAM and ISAM files when data can be both read and written?
- EXTEND
- I-O (Input-Output)
- INPUT
- OUTPUT
The I-O (Input-Output) file access mode is commonly used with VSAM and ISAM files when data can be both read and written. This mode allows for a combination of read and write operations on the file.
In COBOL, which file organization is most suitable for direct access to records by a specific key?
- Dynamic
- Indexed
- Relative
- Sequential
Indexed file organization in COBOL is most suitable for direct access to records by a specific key. It allows for efficient retrieval based on a defined key value, enabling faster data access compared to sequential or relative file organizations.
What are variable-length records in COBOL primarily used for?
- Efficiently storing records of fixed length
- Facilitating random access to records
- Handling varying-length data, like free-form text
- Simplifying program logic
Variable-length records in COBOL are primarily used for handling data with varying lengths, such as free-form text or variable-length fields. This flexibility allows for efficient storage of data with dynamic lengths.
When working with indexed files, the ______ clause is used to define the structure of the index file.
- INDEX
- KEY
- ORGANIZATION
- RECORD
In COBOL, the ORGANIZATION clause is used to define the structure of the index file when working with indexed files. It specifies whether the file is sequential or indexed and sets the rules for accessing data efficiently.
You are working on a COBOL application that handles variable-length records in an employee database. Each record contains a variable number of dependents. How would you dynamically calculate the length of each record based on the number of dependents?
- DEPENDING ON
- LINAGE IS 66
- OCCURS
- RECORDING MODE IS V
The DEPENDING ON clause in COBOL is used to dynamically calculate the length of a record based on the value specified in another field. In this case, the number of dependents would determine the length of each record, allowing for flexibility in handling variable-length data.
When using the READ verb in COBOL, what happens when the end-of-file (EOF) condition is encountered?
- The program ignores the EOF condition
- The program terminates abruptly
- The system automatically opens the next available file
- The system raises an end-of-file (EOF) status code
When the READ verb in COBOL encounters the end-of-file (EOF) condition, the system raises an end-of-file status code. This allows the program to handle the conclusion of file processing gracefully.