Which file organization type is best suited for situations where records are frequently added and deleted?
- Indexed organization
- Line sequential organization
- Relative organization
- Sequential organization
Indexed organization is best suited for situations where records are frequently added and deleted. It provides efficient access to records through keys, allowing for dynamic record management.
The _____ clause in COBOL allows you to redefine a data item to have a different data type.
- ALTER
- OCCURS
- REDEFINES
- RENAMES
The REDEFINES clause in COBOL allows you to redefine a data item to have a different data type. This enables efficient memory utilization by sharing storage space between different data items.
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.
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.
How do you perform date arithmetic in COBOL, such as adding or subtracting days from a date?
- COBOL does not support date arithmetic
- Use the ADD and SUBTRACT statements
- Use the intrinsic function DATE-OF-INTEGER
- Utilize the COMPUTE statement
In COBOL, you perform date arithmetic, such as adding or subtracting days from a date, by using the ADD and SUBTRACT statements. These statements allow you to manipulate date fields with ease.
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.