COBOL Interview questions

mohideen · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 4

1) how to define the files refered to in a subprogram.?

2) how can a job is submit from a cobol proram?

3) What is the use of USAGE IS POINTER ? how can we use it?

4) how a calls makes between two VS COBOL II programs-under CICS?

bluebird · Active User Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 127

2) you should define a file as length 80 (file section)
the write JCL statement to it (in procedure division) to this file.
(don't forget to declare you output record as 80)

1) can u be clearer ?
here is an answer from what I understand :
just define then as in a normal pgm.

mdtendulkar · Active User Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Posts: 237 Location: USA

Hello mohideen,

1) Use the file name used in program in the RUN JCL.

2) ibmmainframes.com/expertforum/viewtopic.php?t=132

3) COBOL Programming Guide Search for USAGE IS POINTER clause

Hope this helps,

Regards
Mayuresh Tendulkar

mmwife · Super Moderator Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 1592

Hi mohideen,

2) If you plan on executing the JCL built in the pgm you shouls write it to an 80 byte dataset defined as //... DD SYSOUT=(,INTRDR).

3) The pointer feature is used to manage linked lists. You can read about this in the Reference Mdtendulkar gave you. A more popular use of the feature is to navigate system control blocks to access system info like ds names, step/job names, dataset info, JES info and the like.

Regards, Jack.

leo · New User Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 2 Location: brazil

hi!

4) dont use "call".

instead use "link" (exec cics link ...)

or use "xctl" (exec cics xctl ...)

the diference between them is link beheaves just like call, ie. at the end of the called pgm the cics returns the control to the clling pgm; the xctl
dont returns.

that's it!