Cobol Interview questions

winner · New User Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 3 Location: chennai

1)How to identify a particular letter is available or not in the word. Example: ‘E’ is available or not in “READ”
2)Two files of same record length, some records are in file 1 not in file 2 and vice versa. Write a logic in Cobol to put unique records in one file and other records in another file

My answer:

1 A) Move string to array and process array

2 A) Mater file ,transaction file control break logic

Can anybody help me in finding out the correct answers

Robert Sample · Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:56 pm

1. Reference modification also works well.
2. The answer will depend upon whether or not the two files are sorted. If sorted, there is a sticky with a two file match merge that can be used.

venki3 · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 3 Location: Chennai

How does reference modification help in checking whether a particular character is present or not in a given string?

Robert Sample · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:32 pm

Reference modification allows you to look at each individual character of a given variable (note the terminology -- COBOL does not have strings, never has had them, and likely never will) to match another variable, literal, or whatever.

genesis786 · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:20 pm

For 1 - we can use INSPECT also.

so if

venki3 · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 3 Location: Chennai

Yes..even I was aware of only the 'INSPECT' option for identifying a particular letter is available or not in the word

Thanks,
Venkateswari