Category: Cobol Faqs

If TEST BEFORE is specified, the condition is tested at the beginning of each repeated execution of the specified PERFORM range. If TEST AFTER is specified, the condition is tested at the end of the each repeated execution of the PERFORM range. The range is executed at least once in TEST AFTER.

Evaluate is just like a case statement or it can be used like a Nested IFs. The difference between EVALUATE and case is that ‘break’ is not used in Evaluate statement and the control comes out of the EVALUATE once a match is found.

In static linking, called subroutine links into the calling program, while in dynamic linking, the subroutine & the main program will exist as separate modules. Dynamic and Static linking can be achieved by choosing either the DYNAM or NODYNAM link edit option.

Open modes can be used for

CONTINUE is like a null statement and it continues execution, while NEXT SENTENCE transfers control to the next sentence.

SECTION will have all the paragraphs that are part of the section, to be performed. PARAGRAPH will have only that paragraph to be performed.

Subscript refers to the occurrence of an array but index is the displacement from the beginning of the array. An index can only be modified using PERFORM, SEARCH & SET.

There are three data types in Cobol:

COBOL is abbreviated as Common Business Oriented Language and it is one of the oldest programming languages. It primarily used for business, finance and administrative systems for companies.