COBOL Interview Questions and Answers
Ques 16. What is the significance of the OCCURS clause?
The OCCURS clause in COBOL is used to define arrays or tables. It specifies the number of occurrences or elements, allowing for efficient handling of repetitive data.
Example:
01 SALES-AMOUNT OCCURS 12 TIMES PIC 9(5).
Ques 17. Explain the INSPECT verb in COBOL.
The INSPECT verb in COBOL is used for string manipulation. It allows the programmer to search, replace, or delete characters in a string.
Example:
INSPECT NAME-STRING REPLACING ALL '- ' BY SPACE.
Ques 18. What is the purpose of the MERGE statement?
The MERGE statement in COBOL is used to merge two or more sorted input files into a single sorted output file. It is often used for sorting and merging files.
Example:
MERGE FILE-1, FILE-2 INTO SORTED-FILE.
Ques 19. Explain the EVALUATE statement in COBOL.
The EVALUATE statement in COBOL is used for multi-way branching. It simplifies complex nested IF statements and enhances code readability.
Example:
EVALUATE TRUE
WHEN AGE < 18 DISPLAY 'Minor'
WHEN AGE > 65 DISPLAY 'Senior'
WHEN OTHER DISPLAY 'Adult'.
Ques 20. How does COBOL support file processing?
COBOL supports file processing through file control entries in the File Section. The OPEN, READ, WRITE, and CLOSE statements are used for file operations.
Example:
OPEN INPUT FILE-1.
READ FILE-1 INTO DATA-RECORD.
CLOSE FILE-1.
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