This document provides real time interview questions and answers related to COBOL programming. It discusses topics such as defining and accessing tables using OCCURS, packed decimal representation with COMP-3 fields, moving alphanumeric values to numeric variables, using INSPECT to find characters/strings and replace data, using MAX and MIN with alphanumeric data, finding when a COBOL program was compiled using WHEN-COMPILED, passing values from COBOL to JCL using RETURN-CODE, using DELIMITED BY SIZE and DELIMITED BY SPACE with STRING, producing infinite loops with PERFORM UNTIL and PERFORM TIMES, and using TEST BEFORE and TEST AFTER in PERFORM statements. For more detailed information on these topics,

1. Real time interview questions on COBOL:
For more information refer http://clearmainframeinterview.blogspot.in/search/label/COBOL
1.How table is defined in COBOL and what are the different ways table entries are accessed
?
OCCURS is used to define table and table entries are accessed either by using Subscript or
index.
Read here for complete information on : Working with tables
2. What is COMP -3 field and what is the use of it?
COMP-3 is packed decimal representation of data and is used to save space.
For complete information on all COMP fields and how the vlaues are displayed in COBOL
program READ HERE
3.Can we move Alphanumeric value to numeric variable?
Yes, we can do that but might face data exception(S0C7) error in case if the field is used in
any calculation.
For complete information READ HERE
4.What is INSPECT and the use of it?
INSPECT is a defined COBOL verb and is used to find number of times a particular
character or string appears or to replace a some portion of any data item.
For complete information on how to work with INSPECT,Read here :Working with
INSPECT
5.Can we use MAX or MIN with Alphanumeric data?
yes, we can use.
For complete information,READ HERE
6.How to find when the COBOL program was compiled?
We can find by using WHEN-COMPILED function or by searching the LOAD library.
There is a defined function in COBOL which can be used to find the compilation date and
time of any program.
The function used is WHEN-COMPILED and it returns 21 characters..
Sample:
Procedure division statement:
DISPLAY 'PROGRAM COMPILED ON:' FUNCTION WHEN-COMPILED

2. Output:
PROGRAM COMPILED ON:2013122412433857+0000
7.How to pass value from COBOL to JCL?
We can pass by using RETURN-CODE.
There is a defined word RETURN-CODE in COBOL which can be used to pass data from
program to JCL.
This is specially useful when some specific return code to be reported in a job.
Normally the job returns 0 or 4 or 8 or 12 return code when any abnormality happens.This
can be changed by using RETURN-CODE in the program.
8.What is DELIMITED BY SIZE and DELIMITED BY SPACE and when they are used?
DELIMITED BY SIZE or DELIMITED BY SPACE will be used along with STRING to control
how the data is copied.
DELIMITED BY SIZE: Total size of data items will be considered as delimiter.
DELIMITED BY SPACE : Space is considered as delimiter.
For more information on this, READ HERE
9.
Any scenario which can result in Infinite loop by using PERFORM?
With PERFORM UNTIL and PERFORM TIMES ,infinite loop can be produced.
Read here for Sample code
10.
What is the use of TEST BEFORE and TEST AFTER in PERFORM statements?
TEST BEFORE and TEST AFTER are used to define when the condition to be checked.
For complete information along with samples,READ HERE