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COBOL Scenario Interview Questions

The document provides a series of COBOL scenario-based interview questions and answers, covering topics such as removing duplicates from files, handling variable-length records, reading files backwards, merging sorted files, debugging SOC7 abends, implementing pagination in CICS-COBOL, counting records in VSAM files, handling file status, performance tuning tips, and using CALL to pass variables to subprograms. Each question includes a brief explanation and example code where applicable. This serves as a practical guide for COBOL programming scenarios commonly encountered in interviews.

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182 views4 pages

COBOL Scenario Interview Questions

The document provides a series of COBOL scenario-based interview questions and answers, covering topics such as removing duplicates from files, handling variable-length records, reading files backwards, merging sorted files, debugging SOC7 abends, implementing pagination in CICS-COBOL, counting records in VSAM files, handling file status, performance tuning tips, and using CALL to pass variables to subprograms. Each question includes a brief explanation and example code where applicable. This serves as a practical guide for COBOL programming scenarios commonly encountered in interviews.

Uploaded by

manishkrnanand
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COBOL Scenario-Based Interview Questions and Answers

1. How do you remove duplicates from a file using COBOL?

You can remove duplicates by sorting the input file and comparing current and previous records.

Example Code:

```cobol

READ IN-FILE

AT END MOVE 'Y' TO EOF-FLAG

NOT AT END

IF EMP-ID NOT = WS-PREV-EMP-ID

WRITE OUT-REC FROM IN-REC

MOVE EMP-ID TO WS-PREV-EMP-ID

END-IF

END-READ

```

Assumes input is sorted by EMP-ID.

2. How do you handle a file that has variable-length records in COBOL?

Use RECORD IS VARYING clause.

```cobol

FD EMP-FILE

RECORD IS VARYING IN SIZE FROM 10 TO 100

DEPENDING ON WS-REC-LEN

```

Allows reading variable-length records.


3. How to read a file backwards in COBOL?

COBOL can't read sequential files backward directly.

Workaround:

1. Store records in an array.

2. Process array in reverse order.

4. How to merge two sorted files without duplicates?

Compare keys of both files, write the smaller one.

```cobol

IF A-KEY < B-KEY

WRITE A

ELSE IF A-KEY > B-KEY

WRITE B

ELSE

WRITE A

READ BOTH

```

5. How do you debug a SOC7 abend in COBOL?

SOC7 = Data exception (usually numeric).

Steps:

- Check dump offset

- Match with source line

- Use DISPLAYs before numeric moves

- Use NUMVAL to validate alphanumeric data


6. How to implement pagination (Page In/Page Out) in CICS-COBOL?

Use Temporary Storage (TSQ) to store all records. Maintain current page index using EIBCALEN or

COMMAREA.

7. How to count the number of records in a VSAM file?

Use a simple loop with READ and counter increment.

```cobol

ADD 1 TO REC-COUNT

READ VSAM-FILE UNTIL EOF

```

8. How do you handle file status in COBOL?

Always declare FILE STATUS in FILE-CONTROL.

```cobol

IF WS-FILE-STAT = '00'

CONTINUE

ELSE DISPLAY ERROR

```

9. What are some performance tuning tips for COBOL programs?

- Use COMP/COMP-3 for arithmetic fields

- Avoid unnecessary file access

- Use binary counters

- Minimize SORTs

10. How to use CALL and pass variables to subprograms?

Use CALL with USING clause.


```cobol

CALL 'SUBPROG' USING VAR1 VAR2

LINKAGE SECTION.

01 VAR1 PIC X(10).

01 VAR2 PIC 9(4).

```

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