mainframe intreview question

7/23/2019 Mainframe Intreview Question

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mainframe-intreview-question 1/83

1. What is the diference between index and subscript? - GS

Subscript reers to the array occurrence while index is the displacement (in no

o bytes) rom the beinnin o the array. !n index can only be modi"ed usin

#$%&'% S$!%*+ , S$. eed to ha/e index or a table in order to use S$!%*+

S$!%*+ !00.

What is the diference between S$!%*+ and S$!%*+ !00? - GS

S$!%*+ - is a serial search.

S$!%*+ !00 - is a binary search , the table must be sorted

(!*$2G3$S*$2G 4$5 clause to be used , data loaded in this order)

beoreusin S$!%*+ !00.

6.What is the diference between *'27$ , $8 S$$*$ ?

*'27$ is li9e a null statement (do nothin) while $8 S$$*$ transers

control to the next sentence (::) (! sentence is terminated by a period)

What does $82 do ?

oes nothin : 2 used must be the only sentence within a pararaph.

;.What is the diference between *'# , *'#-; ?

*'# is a binary storae ormat while *'#-; is pac9ed decimal ormat.

*02$ 2$%<2$W =7$S2' >!4 (!2&%!$)

*lient codes

GS - Goldman Sachs

*'>'0

ame the di/isions in a *'>'0 proram. - GS



2$2&2*!2' 2<2S2' $<2%'$ 2<2S2' !! 2<2S2' #%'*$7%$

2<2S2'.

What are the diferent data types a/ailable in *'>'0?

!lpha-numeric (8) alphabetic (!) and numeric (@).

What does the 222!02A$ /erb do? - GS

!lphabetic !lphanumeric "elds , alphanumeric edited items are set to S#!*$S.

umeric umeric edited items set to A$%'.

&200$% '**7%S $#$2G ' items let untouched.

What is BB le/el used or ?

$lementary le/el item. *annot be subdi/isions o other items (cannot be

Cuali"ed) nor can they be subdi/ided themsel/es.

What is DD le/el used or ?

&or condition name *ondititon.

What is le/el EE used or ?



&or %$!$S clause.

What does the 2S 7$%2* clause establish ?

2S 7$%2* can be used on alphanumeric items sined numeric , pac9ed

decimal

items and usined numeric , pac9ed decimal items. 2S 7$%2* returns %7$ i

the item only consists o F-@. +owe/er i the item bein tested is a sined

item then it may contain F-@ and - .

+ow do you de"ne a table3array in *'>'0?

F1 !%%!5S.

FH !%%!51 #2* 8(@) '**7%S 1F 2$S.

FH !%%!56 #2* 8(E) '**7%S 6F 2$S 2$8$ >5 WS-2$8.

*an the '**7%S clause be at the F1 le/el?

o.

What is the diference between index and subscript? - GS

Subscript reers to the array occurrence while index is the displacement (in no



o bytes) rom the beinnin o the array. !n index can only be modi"ed usin

#$%&'% S$!%*+ , S$. eed to ha/e index or a table in order to use S$!%*+

S$!%*+ !00.

What is the diference between S$!%*+ and S$!%*+ !00? - GS

S$!%*+ - is a serial search.

S$!%*+ !00 - is a binary search , the table must be sorted

(!S*$2G3$S*$2G 4$5 clause to be used , data loaded in this order)

beore

usin S$!%*+ !00.

What should be the sortin order or S$!%*+ !00? - GS

2t can be either !S*$2G or $S*$2G. !S*$2G is deault. 2 you want

the search to be done on an array sorted in descendin order then while

de"nin the array you should i/e $S*$2G 4$5 clause. (5ou must load the

table in the speci"ed order).

What is binary search?



Search on a sorted array. *ompare the item to be searched with the item

at the center. 2 it matches "ne else repeat the process with the let hal

or the riht hal dependin on where the item lies.

y proram has an array de"ned to ha/e 1F items. ue to a bu 2 "nd that

e/en i the proram access the 11th item in this array the proram does not

abend. What is wron with it?

ust use compiler option SS%!G$ i you want array bounds chec9in.

eault is 'SS%!G$.

+ow do you sort in a *'>'0 proram? Gi/e sort "le de"nition sort statement

syntax and meanin. - GS

Syntax

S'% "le-1 ' !S*$2G3$S*$2G 4$5 9ey....7S2G "le-6 G2<2G "le-;.

7S2G can be substituted by 2#7 #%'*$7%$ 2S para-1 +%7 para-6

G2<2G can be substituted by '7#7 #%'*$7%$ 2S para-1 +%7 para-6.



"le-1 is the sort wor9"le and must be described usin S entry in &20$

S$*2'.

"le-6 is the input "le or the S'% and must be described usin an & entry

in &20$ S$*2' and S$0$* clause in &20$ *'%'0.

"le-; is the out"le rom the S'% and must be described usin an & entry in

&20$ S$*2' and S$0$* clause in &20$ *'%'0.

"le-1 "le-6 , "le-; should not be opened explicitly.

2#7 #%'*$7%$ is executed beore the sort and records must be %eleased to

the sort wor9 "le rom the input procedure.

'7#7 #%'*$7%$ is executed ater all records ha/e been sorted. %ecords

rom

the sort wor9 "le must be %eturned one at a time to the output procedure.

+ow do you de"ne a sort "le in I*0 that runs the *'>'0 proram?

7se the S'%W4F1 S'%W4F6..... names in the step. umber o sort

datasets

depends on the /olume o data bein sorted but a minimum o ; is reCuired.



What are the two ways o doin sortin in a *'>'0 proram? Gi/e the ormats. -

GS

See Cuestion 1E.

Gi/e the ormat o 7S2G and G2<2G in S'% statement. What are the

restrictions with it? - GS

See Cuestion 1E. %estrictions - *annot massae records cannot select records

to be sorted.

What is the diference between perormin a S$*2' and a #!%!G%!#+? - GS

#erormin a S$*2' will cause all the pararaphs that are part o the

section to be perormed.

#erormin a #!%!G%!#+ will cause only that pararaph to be perormed.

What is the use o $<!07!$ statement? - GS

$/aluate is li9e a case statement and can be used to replace nested 2s. he

diference between $<!07!$ and case is that no Jbrea9J is reCuired or



$<!07!$ i.e. control comes out o the $<!07!$ as soon as one match is made.

What are the diferent orms o $<!07!$ statement?

$<!07!$ $<!07!$ S=0*'$ !0S' &20$-S!7S

W+$ !K> ! *K W+$ 1FF !0S' JFFJ imperati/e stmt

imperati/e stmt

W+$ (8)35 K L W+$ -;FH !0S' J;6J

imperati/e stmt imperati/e stmt

W+$ '+$% W+$ '+$%


$-$<!07!$ $-$<!07!$

$<!07!$ S=0*'$ !0S' !K> $<!07!$ S=0*'$ !0S' %7$

W+$ 1FF !0S' %7$ W+$ 1FF !0S' !K>


W+$ -;FH !0S' &!0S$ W+$ -;FH !0S' (!3*KL)




$-$<!07!$ $-$<!07!$

+ow do you come out o an $<!07!$ statement? - GS

!ter the execution o one o the when clauses the control is automatically

passed on to the next sentence ater the $<!07!$ statement. here is no need

o any extra code.

2n an $<!07!$ statement can 2 i/e a complex condition on a when clause?

5es.

What is a scope terminator? Gi/e examples.

Scope terminator is used to mar9 the end o a /erb e.. $<!07!$ $-

$<!07!$M

2& $-2&.

+ow do you do in-line #$%&'%? - GS

#$%&'% ... N720O ...

NsentencesO



$ #$%&'%

When would you use in-line perorm?

When the body o the perorm will not be used in other pararaphs. 2 the body

o the perorm is a eneric type o code (used rom /arious other places in the

proram) it would be better to put the code in a separate para and use#$%&'%

paraname rather than in-line perorm.

What is the diference between *'27$ , $8 S$$*$ ?

*'27$ is li9e a null statement (do nothin) while $8 S$$*$ transers

control to the next sentence (::) (! sentence is terminated by a period)

What does $82 do ?

oes nothin : 2 used must be the only sentence within a pararaph.

*an 2 rede"ne an 8(1FF) "eld with a "eld o 8(6FF)?

5es. %ede"nes Pust causes both "elds to start at the same location. &or

example



F1 WS-'# #2* 8(1)

F1 WS-'#-%$ %$$&2$S WS-'# #2* 8(6).

2 you '<$ J16J to WS-'#-%$

2S#0!5 WS-'# will show 1 while

2S#0!5 WS-'#-%$ will show 16. (?)

*an 2 rede"ne an 8(6FF) "eld with a "eld o 8(1FF) ?

5es.

What do you do to resol/e S'*-B error? - GS

>asically you need to correct the ofendin data.

any times the reason or S'*B is an un-initialiQed numeric item. $xamine that

possibility "rst.

any installations pro/ide you a dump or run time abends ( it can be

enerated also by callin some subroutines or 'S ser/ices thru assembly

lanuae). hese dumps pro/ide the ofset o the last instruction at which the



abend occurred. $xamine the compilation output 8%$& listin to et the /erb

and the line number o the source code at this ofset. hen you can loo9 at

the source code to "nd the bu. o et capture the runtime dumps you will

ha/e to de"ne some datasets (S5S!>'7 etc. ) in the I*0.

2 none o these are helpul use Pudment and 2S#0!5 to localiQe the

source o error.

Some installation miht ha/e batch proram debuin tools. 7se them.

+ow is sin stored in #ac9ed ecimal "elds and Aoned ecimal "elds?

#ac9ed ecimal "elds Sin is stored as a hex /alue in the last nibble (L

bits ) o the storae.

Aoned ecimal "elds !s a deault sin is o/er punched with the numeric

/alue stored in the last bite.

+ow is sin stored in a comp-; "eld? - GS

2t is stored in the last nibble. &or example i your number is 1FF it stores



hex F* in the last byte hex 1* i your number is 1F1 hex 6* i your number is

1F6 hex 1 i the number is -1F1 hex 6 i the number is -1F6 etc...

+ow is sin stored in a *'# "eld ? - GS

2n the most sini"cant bit. >it is on i -/e of i /e.

What is the diference between *'# , *'#-; ?

*'# is a binary storae ormat while *'#-; is pac9ed decimal ormat.

What is *'#-1? *'#-6?

*'#-1 - Sinle precision Roatin point. 7ses L bytes.

*'#-6 - ouble precision Roatin point. 7ses D bytes.

+ow do you de"ne a /ariable o *'#-1? *'#-6?

o picture clause to be i/en. $xample F1 WS-<!% 7S!G$ *'#-1.

+ow many bytes does a S@(B) *'#-; "eld occupy ?

Will ta9e L bytes. Sin is stored as hex /alue in the last nibble.

General ormula is 2((n36) 1)) where nKB in this example.



+ow many bytes does a S@(B) S2G %!202G S$#!%!$ "eld occupy ?

Will occupy D bytes (one extra byte or sin).

+ow many bytes will a S@(D) *'# "eld occupy ?

L bytes.

What is the maximum /alue that can be stored in S@(D) *'#?

@@@@@@@@

What is *'# S5*?

*auses the item to be alined on natural boundaries. *an be S5*+%'2A$0$&

or %2G+.

&or binary data items the address resolution is aster i they are located at

word boundaries in the memory. &or example on main rame the memory word

siQe

is L bytes. his means that each word will start rom an address di/isible by

L. 2 my "rst /ariable is x(;) and next



one is s@(L) comp then i you do not speciy the S5* clause S@(L) *'# will

start rom byte ; ( assumin that it starts rom F ). 2 you speciy S5*

then the binary data item will start rom address L. 5ou miht see some wastae

o memory but the access to this

computational "eld is aster.

What is the maximum siQe o a F1 le/el item in *'>'0 2? in *'>'0 22?

2n *'>'0 22 1EBBB61H

+ow do you reerence the ollowin "le ormats rom *'>'0 prorams

&ixed >loc9 &ile - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S S$=7$2!0. 7se %$*'%2G '$ 2S

&

>0'*4 *'!2S F .

&ixed 7nbloc9ed - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S S$=7$2!0. 7se %$*'%2G '$

2S & do

not use >0'*4 *'!2S

<ariable >loc9 &ile - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S S$=7$2!0. 7se %$*'%2G '$

2S <



>0'*4 *'!2S F. o not code the L bytes or record lenth in & ie I*0 rec

lenth will be max rec lenth in pm L

<ariable 7nbloc9ed - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S S$=7$2!0. 7se %$*'%2G '$

2S <

do not use >0'*4 *'!2S. o not code L bytes or record lenth in & ie I*0

rec lenth will be max rec lenth in pm L.

$SS <S! "le - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S S$=7$2!0.

4SS <S! "le - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S 2$8$ %$*'% 4$5 2S !0$%!$

%$*'%

4$5 2S

%%S &ile - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S %$0!2<$ %$0!2<$ 4$5 2S

#rinter &ile - 7se '%G!2S!2' 2S S$=7$2!0. 7se %$*'%2G '$ 2S &

>0'*4

*'!2S F. (7se %$*&K&>! in I*0 *>).

What are diferent "le '#$ modes a/ailable in *'>'0?

'pen or 2#7 '7#7 2-' $8$.



What is the mode in which you will '#$ a "le or writin? - GS

'7#7 23' ! $8$

2n the I*0 how do you de"ne the "les reerred to in a subroutine ?

Supply the cards Pust as you would or "les reerred to in the main

proram.

*an you %$W%2$ a record in an $SS "le? *an you $0$$ a record rom it?

*an rewrite(record lenth must be same) but not delete.

What is "le status @6? - GS

0oic error. e.. a "le is opened or input and an attempt is made to write

to it.

What is "le status ;@ ?

ismatch in 0%$*0 or >0'*4S2A$ or %$*& between your *'>'0 pm , the I*0

(or

the dataset label). 5ou will et "le status ;@ on an '#$.

What is Staticynamic lin9in ?



2n static lin9in the called subroutine is lin9-edited into the callin

proram while in dynamic lin9in the subroutine , the main proram will

exist as separate load modules. 5ou choose static3dynamic lin9in by choosin

either the 5! or '5! lin9 edit option. ($/en i you choose '5! a

*!00 identi"er (as opposed to a *!00 literal) will translate to a 5!2*

call).

! statically called subroutine will not be in its initial state the next time

it is called unless you explicitly use 222!0 or you do a *!*$0. !

dynamically called routine will always be in its initial state.

What is !'$(6L) !'$(;1) %'$(6L) and %'$(!5)? ( applicable to

only

<S3$S! $nterprise Ser/er).

hese are compile3lin9 edit options.

!'$ - !ddressin mode. %'$ - %esidency mode.

!'$(6L) - 6L bit addressin. !'$(;1) - ;1 bit addressin. !'$(!5) -



$ither 6L bit or ;1 bit addressin dependin on %'$.

%'$(6L) - %esides in /irtual storae below 1E e line. 7se this or ;1 bit

prorams that call 6L bit prorams. ('S3<S *obol pms use 6L bit addresses

only).

%'$(!5) - *an reside abo/e or below 1E e line.

What compiler option would you use or dynamic lin9in?

5!.

What is SS%!G$ 'SS%!G$ ?

hese are compiler options w.r.t subscript out o rane chec9in. 'SS%!G$ is

the deault and i chosen no run time error will be Raed i your index or

subscript oes out o the permissible rane.

+ow do you set a return code to the I*0 rom a *'>'0 proram?

o/e a /alue to %$7%-*'$ reister. %$7%-*'$ should not be declared in

your proram.



+ow can you submit a Pob rom *'>'0 prorams?

Write I*0 cards to a dataset with

33xxxxxxx S5S'7K(!2%%) where J!J is output class and dataset should be

opened or output in the proram. e"ne a DF byte record layout or the "le.

What are the diferences between 'S <S *'>'0 and <S *'>'0 22?

'S3<S *obol pms can only run in 6L bit addressin mode <S *obol 22 pms can

run either in 6L bit or ;1 bit addressin modes.

%eport writer is supported only in 'S3<S *obol.

7S!G$ 2S #'2$% is supported only in <S *'>'0 22.

%eerence modi"cation e WS-<!%(16) is supported only in <S *'>'0 22.

$<!07!$ is supported only in <S *'>'0 22.

Scope terminators are supported only in <S *'>'0 22.

'S3<S *obol ollows !S2 BL stds while <S *'>'0 22 ollows !S2 DH stds.

7nder *2*S *alls between <S *'>'0 22 prorams are supported.



What are the steps you o throuh while creatin a *'>'0 proram executable?

>6 precompiler(i embedded sCl used) *2*S translator (i *2*S pm) *obol

compiler 0in9 editor.

2 >6 proram create plan by bindin the >%s.

*an you call an 'S <S *'>'0 pm rom a <S *'>'0 22 pm ?

2n non-*2*S en/ironment it is possible. 2n *2*S this is not possible.

<S!

What are the diferent types o <S! "les a/ailable?

$SS $ntry SeCuence ata Set

4SS 4ey SeCuence ata Set

%%S %elati/e ata Set

What is 2*!S ?

2*!S is the !ccess ethod Ser/ices proram. 5ou run the 2*!S proram

and

supply !S commands thru S5S2. (examples o !S commands are $0$$

$&2$



%$#%' etc..).

*an !S commands be run rom the S' prompt ?

5es

Syntax o !S modal commands ?

ote these can be used only under 2*!S and not rom the S' prompt.

2& 0!S**(or !8**) O(or NK etc..) /alue -

+$ -

' -

command set (such as $0$$ $&2$ etc..)

$0S$ -

' -

command set

0!S** - *ondition code rom the last unction(such as delete) executed

!8** - ax condition code that was returned by any o the pre/ unctions



S$ is also a /alid !S command. S$ 0!S** (or !8**) K /alue

he maximum condition code is 1E. ! cond code o L indicates a warnin. ! cond

code o D is usually encountered on a $0$$ o a dataset that is not present.

7nder 2*!S multiple unctions can be executed each o which returns a cond

code. What will be the condition code returned to the operatin system ?

he maximum condition code enerated is returned as the condition code o the

2*!S step.

What is *ontrol 2nter/al *ontrol !rea

*ontrol 2nter/al is analoous to a physical bloc9 or =S! "les. 2t is the

unit o i3o. ust be between H16 bytes to ;6 9. 7sually either 64 or L4. !

larer control inter/al increases perormance or seCuential processin while

the re/erse is true or random access. 7nder *2*S when a record is loc9ed the

entire *2 ets loc9ed.

*ontrol area is a roup o control inter/als. *! is used durin allocation. *!



siQe is calculated based on the allocation type (cyl trac9s or records) and

can be max o 1 cylinder

What is &%$$S#!*$ ?

*oded in the $&2$ as &%$$S#!*$(ci ca) where ci is the percentae o each

control inter/al to be let ree or insertions ca is the percentae o

control inter/als in each control area to be let empty.

+ow do you decide on optimum /alues or *2 &%$$S#!*$ etc...

*2 siQe should be based on record lenth type o processin. 7sually *2 is L4.

2 record lenth is larer(O14) chose E4 or D4.

&%$$S#!*$ should be lare i more number o insertions are en/isaed. 7sual

/alues are (6F 6F) when hea/y updates are expected. *2 siQe can be calculated.

Would you speciy &%$$S#!*$ or an $SS?

o. >ecause you cannot insert records in an $SS also when you rewrite a

record it must be o the same lenth. hus puttin any /alue or reespace



does not ma9e any sense.

What is S+!%$'#S ?

S+!%$'#S is a parameter in the $&2$ and speci"es how an obPect can be

shared amon users. 2t is coded as S+!%$'#S(a b) where a is the cross reion

share option ie how two or more Pobs on a sinle system can share the "le

while b is the cross system share option ie how two or more Pobs on diferent

<Ses can share the "le. 7sual /alue is (6 ;).

What is the meanin o each o the /alues in S+!%$'#S(6 ;)?

<alue o 6 or cross reion means that the "le can be processed simultaneously

by multiple users pro/ided only one o them is an updater. <alue o ; or cross

system means that any number o Pobs can process the "le or input or output

(<S! does nothin to ensure interity).

+ow do you de"ne a 4SS ?

$&2$ *07S$%(cluster name) with the 2$8$ parameter. !lso speciy the ds



name or the !! component , the ds 2$8 component. 'ther important

parms are

%$*'%S2A$ 4$5S S+!%$'#2'S.

+ow do you de"ne an !028 ? +ow do you use !028s in batch *2*S pms ?

$&2$ !0$%!$2$8. 2mportant paramters are %$0!$ where you speciy

the

base cluster name 4$5S %$*'%S2A$S+!%$'#2'S72=7$4$5(or

'72=7$4$5)

!!(ds name or the data component) 2$8(ds name or the index

component).

hen $&2$ #!+. 2mportant paramters are !$ (ds name or the path)

#!+$%5 (ds name o the alternate index name) 7#!$(or '7#!$) which

speci"es whether an alt index is updated when a update to the base cluster

ta9es place.

hen >02$8. #arameters are 2!!S$(ds name o base cluster)

'7!!S$(ds

name o !28).



7sin alternate indexes in batch pms

2n the I*0 you must ha/e stmts or the cluster and or the path(s). 2n the

cobol pm S$0$* .. !SS2G ' ddname or base cluster %$*'% 4$5 2S...

!0$%!$ %$*'% 4$5 2S..

7sin alternate indexes in *2*S pms

&* entries must be created or both base cluster , the path. o read usin the

alternate index use the dd name o the path in *2*S "le control commands.

What happens when you open an empty <S! "le in a *'>'0 proram or

input?

! <S! "le that has ne/er contained a record is treated as una/ailable.

!ttemptin to open or input will ail. !n empty "le can be opened or output

only. When you open or output *'>'0 will write a dummy record to the "le ,

then delete it out.

+ow do you initialiQe a <S! "le beore any operation? a <S! with alternate

index?



*an write a dummy proram that Pust opens the "le or output , then closes it.

What does a "le status o F6 on a <S! indicate?

uplicate alternate 9ey . +appens on both input and output operation

+ow do you calculate record siQe o an alternate cluster? Gi/e your /alues or

both uniCue and non-uniCue.

7niCue *ase H ( alt-9ey-lenth primary-9ey )

onuniCue *ase H ( alt-9ey-lenth n primary-9ey )

where n K T o duplicate records or the alternate 9ey

What is the diference between seCuential "les and $SS "les?

SeCuential(=S!) "les can be created on tape while $SS "les cannot.

!lso you can ha/e !02$8 or an $SS while no such acility exists or =S!

"les.

+ow do you load a <S! data set with records ?

7sin the %$#%' command.



+ow do you de"ne a GG ?

7se the $&2$ G$$%!2'!!G%'7# command. 2n the same 2*!S step

another

dataset must be de"ned whose *> parameters are used when new enerations

o

the GG are created. his dataset is 9nown as the model dataset. he ds name

o

this model dataset must be the same as that o the GG so use a disp o 9eep

rather than catl and also speciy spaceK(tr9F)

o all /ersions o the GG ha/e to be o the same record lenth ?

o the *> o the model dataset can be o/erridden when you allocate new

/ersions.

+ow are diferent /ersions o GG named ?

base-"le-name.Gnnnnn<FF where nnnnK eneration number (upto 6HH).

nnnn will be FFFF or the 1st eneration.

Suppose ; enerations o a GG exist. +ow would you reerence the 1 st



eneration in the I*0? - GS

7se GG name(-6).

Suppose a eneration o GG ets created in a particular step o a proc. +ow

would you reer the current eneration in a subseCuent step? What would be the

disposition o this eneration now? - GS

%elati/e eneration numbers are updated only at the end o the Pob not at the

end o a step. o allocate a new eneration we would be usin (1) with a 2S#

o ($W*!0G$0$$). o reer to this in a subseCuent step in the same Pob

we would aain use (1) but with a 2S# o S+% or '0.

What more ino you should i/e in the statement while de"nin the next

eneration o a GG? - GS

Gi/e (1) as the eneration number i/e (newcatl) or disp i/e space

parameter can i/e the dcb parameter i you want to o/erride the dcb o the

model dataset.



!ssumin that the $&2$ Pcl is not a/ailable how do you et ino about a <S!

"leJs oranisation ?

7se the 02S*! command.

urin processin o a <S! "le some system error occurs and it is

subseCuently unusable . What do you do ?

%un <$%2&5.

I*0

What is primary allocation or a dataset?

he space allocated when the dataset is "rst created.

What is the diference between primary and secondary allocations or a dataset?

Secondary allocation is done when more space is reCuired than what has already

been allocated.

+ow many extents are possible or a seCuential "le ? &or a <S! "le ?

1E extents on a /olume or a seCuential "le and 16; or a <S! "le.



What does a disposition o ($W*!0G$0$$) mean? - GS

hat this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated to *!0G the dataset i

the step is successul and to delete the dataset i the step abends.

What does a disposition o ($W*!0G4$$#) mean? - GS

hat this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated to *!0G the dataset i

the step is successul and to 4$$# but not *!0G the dataset i the step

abends. hus i the step abends the dataset would not be cataloued and we

would need to supply the /ol. ser the next time we reer to it.

+ow do you access a "le that had a disposition o 4$$#? - GS

eed to supply /olume serial no. <'0KS$%Kxxxx.

What does a disposition o ('$0$$$0$$) mean ?

he ' will cause the dataset to be created (i it does not exist) and then

the two $0$$s will cause the dataset to be deleted whether the step abends or

not. his disposition is used to clear out a dataset at the beinnin o a Pob.



What is the statement or a output "le?

7nless allocated earlier will ha/e the our parameters

2S#K($W*!0G$0$$) 72 S#!*$ , *> .

What do you do i you do not want to 9eep all the space allocated to a dataset?

- GS

Speciy the parameter %0S$ ( release ) in the S#!*$ e..

S#!*$K(*50(HFHF)%0S$)

What is 2S#K($W#!SS$0$$)?

his is a new "le and create it i the step terminates normally pass it to

the subseCuent steps and i step abends delete it. his dataset will not

exist beyond the I*0.

+ow do you create a temporary dataset? Where will you use them?

emporary datasets can be created either by not speciyin any S!$ or by

speciyin the temporary "le indicator as in SK,,$#.



We use them to carry the output o one step to another step in the same Pob.

he dataset will not be retained once the Pob completes.

+ow do you restart a proc rom a particular step? - GS

2n Pob card speciy %$S!%Kprocstep.stepname

where procstep K name o the Pcl step that in/o9ed the proc

and stepname K name o the proc step where you want execution to start

+ow do you s9ip a particular step in a proc3I'>? - GS

*an use either condition codes or use the Pcl control statement 2& (only in $S!

I*0)

! #%'* has "/e steps. Step ; has a condition code. +ow can you

o/erride3nulliy this condition code? - GS

#ro/ide the o/erride on the $8$* stmt in the I*0 as ollows

33S$#FF1 $8$* procname*'.stepnameK/alue

!ll parameters on an $8$* stmt in the proc such as *' #!% ha/e to be



o/erridden li9e this.

+ow do you o/erride a speci"c !$3S5S2 in #%'* rom a I*0?

33Nstepname.ddO SK...

What is '*! 6 - GS

his is an <S messae indicatin that a duplicate catalo entry exists. $..

i you already ha/e a dataset with dsn K Jxxxx.yyyyJ and u try to create one

with disp newcatl you would et this error. the proram open and write would

o throuh and at the end o the step the system would try to put it in the

system catalo. at this point since an entry already exists the catl would

ail and i/e this messae. you can "x the problem by deletin3uncataloin

the "rst data set and oin to the /olume where the new dataset exists(this

ino is in the mslo o the Pob) and cataloin it.

What is JSF*BJ abend? - GS

*aused by in/alid data in a numeric "eld.



What is a SF*L error ? - GS

Storae /iolation error - can be due to /arious reasons. e.. %$!2G a "le

that is not open in/alid address reerenced due to subscript error.

What are S;B S>;B S$;B abends?

!ll indicate dataset out o space. S;B - no secondary allocation was

speci"ed. S>;B - end o /ol. and no urther /olumes speci"ed. S$;B - ax. o

1E extents already allocated.

What is S;66 abend ?

2ndicates a time out abend. 5our proram has ta9en more *#7 time than the

deault limit or the Pob class. *ould indicate an in"nite loop.

Why do you want to speciy the %$G2' parameter in a I*0 step? - GS

o o/erride the %$G2' de"ned at the I'> card le/el.

%$G2' speci"es the max reion siQe. %$G2'KF4 or F or omittin %$G2'

means

no limit will be applied.



What does the 2$ parameter siniy ? What does 2$K1LLF mean ?

2$ parameter can be used to o/ercome S;66 abends or prorams that

enuinely

need more *#7 time. 2$K1LLF means no *#7 time limit is to be applied to this

step.

What is *'K$<$ ?

eans execute this step e/en i any o the pre/ious steps terminated

abnormally.

What is *'K'05 ?

eans execute this step only i any o the pre/ious steps terminated

abnormally.

+ow do you chec9 the syntax o a I*0 without runnin it?

5#$%7KS*! on the I'> card or use IS*!.

What does 2$>G$$% do?

7sed to copy one =S! "le to another. Source dataset should be described usin



S5S71 ddname. estination dataset should be decribed usin S5S76. 2$>G$%

can

also do some reormattin o data by supplyin control cards /ia S5S2.

+ow do you send the output o a *'>'0 proram to a member o a #S?

*ode the S as pds(member) with a 2S# o S+%. he disp applies to the pds

and

not to a speci"c member.

2 ha/e multiple Pobs ( I*0s with se/eral I'> cards ) in a member. What happens

i 2 submit it?

ultiple Pobs are submitted (as many Pobs as the number o I'> cards).

2 ha/e a *'>'0 proram that !**$#s some input data. +ow do you code the

I*0

statment or this? ( +ow do you code instream data in a I*0? )

33S5S2

input data

input data



3

*an you code instream data in a #%'* ?

o.

+ow do you o/ercome this limitation ?

'ne way is to code S5S2 75 in the #%'* and then o/erride this rom

the

I*0 with instream data.

+ow do you run a *'>'0 batch proram rom a I*0? +ow do you run a

*'>'03>6

proram?

o run a non >6 proram

33S$#FF1 $8$* #GK5#%'G

o run a >6 proram

33S$#FF1 $8$* #GK24I$&F1

33S5SS2

S S5S$(....)



%7 #%'G%!(5#%'G)

#0!(.....) 02>(....) #!%S(...)

3

What is S$#02> I'>02>? What is it used or? - GS

Speci"es that the pri/ate library (or libraries) speci"ed should be searched

beore the deault system libraries in order to locate a proram to be

executed.

S$#02> applies only to the particular step I'>02> to all steps in the Pob.

What is order o searchin o the libraries in a I*0? - GS

&irst any pri/ate libraries as speci"ed in the S$#02> or I'>02> then the

system libraries such as S5S1.02402>. he system libraries are speci"ed in

the lin9list.

What happens i both I'>02> , S$#02> is speci"ed ?

I'>02> is inored.



When you speciy mutiple datasets in a I'>02> or S$#02> what actor

determines the order? - GS

he library with the larest bloc9 siQe should be the "rst one.

+ow to chane deault proclib ?

33!>* I*002> '%$%K($.5#%'*02>S5S1.#%'*02>)

he disp in the I*0 is ' and the proram opens the "le in '7#7 mode.

What

happens ? he disp in the I*0 is S+% and the pm opens the "le in $8$

mode.

What happens ?

%ecords will be written to end o "le (append) when a W%2$ is done in both

cases.

What are the /alid S'%G /alues ?

#S - =S! #' - #artitioned 2S - 2S!

What are the diferences between I$S6 , I$S; ?



I$S; allocates datasets or all the steps beore the Pob is scheduled. 2n I$S6

allocation o datasets reCuired by a step are done only Pust beore the step

executes.

????? *an anyone add more

>6

+ow would you "nd out the total number o rows in a table? - GS

7se S$0$* *'7() ...

+ow do you eliminate duplicate /alues in S$0$*? - GS

7se S$0$* 2S2* ...

+ow do you select a row usin indexes? - GS

Speciy the indexed columns in the W+$%$ clause.

What are areate unctions?

>ulit-in mathematical unctions or use in S$0$* clause.

+ow do you "nd the maximum /alue in a column? - GS



7se S$0$* !8(...

*an you use !8 on a *+!% column?

5$S.

y S=0 statement S$0$* !<G(S!0!%5) &%' $# yields inaccurate results.

Why?

>ecause S!0!%5 is not declared to ha/e 700s and the employees or whom the

salary is not 9nown are also counted.

+ow do you retrie/e the "rst H characters o &2%S!$ column o $# table?

S$0$* S7>S%(&2%S!$1H) &%' $#M

+ow do you concatenate the &2%S!$ and 0!S!$ rom $# table to i/e a

complete name?

S$0$* &2%S!$ UU J J UU 0!S!$ &%' $#M

What is the use o <!07$ unction?

1. !/id -/e S=0*'$s by handlin nulls and Qeroes in computations

6. Substitute a numeric /alue or any nulls used in computation



What is 72'72' !00? - GS

72' eliminates duplicates

72' !00 retains duplicates

>oth these are used to combine the results o diferent S$0$* statements.

Suppose 2 ha/e "/e S=0 S$0$* statements connected by 72'372' !00

how

many times should 2 speciy 72' to eliminate the duplicate rows? - GS

'nce.

What is the restriction on usin 72' in embedded S=0?

2t has to be in a *7%S'%.

2n the W+$%$ clause what is >$W$$ and 2? - GS

>$W$$ supplies a rane o /alues while 2 supplies a list o /alues.

2s >$W$$ inclusi/e o the rane /alues speci"ed? - GS

5es.

What is J024$J used or in W+$%$ clause? What are the wildcard characters? - GS



024$ is used or partial strin matches. JVJ ( or a strin o any character )

and JJ (or any sinle character ) are the two wild card characters.

When do you use a 024$ statement?

o do partial search e.. to search employee by name you need not speciy the

complete nameM usin 024$ you can search or partial strin matches.

What is the meanin o underscore ( JJ ) in the 024$ statement? - GS

atch or any sinle character.

What do you accomplish by G%'7# >5 ... +!<2G clause? - GS

G%'7# >5 partitions the selected rows on the distinct /alues o the column on

which you roup by.

+!<2G selects G%'7#s which match the criteria speci"ed

*onsider the employee table with column #%'I$* nullable. +ow can you et a

list o employees who are not assined to any proPect?

S$0$* $#'



&%' $#

W+$%$ #%'I$* 2S 700M

What is the result o this Cuery i no rows are selected

S$0$* S7(S!0!%5)

&%' $#

W+$%$ =7!0KJS*JM

700

Why S$0$* is not preerred in embedded S=0 prorams?

&or three reasons

2 the table structure is chaned ( a "eld is added ) the proram will ha/e

to be modi"ed

#roram miht retrie/e the columns which it miht not use leadin on 23' o/er

head.

he chance o an index only scan is lost.



What are correlated subCueries? - GS! subCuery in which the inner ( nested )

Cuery reers bac9 to the table in the outer Cuery. *orrelated subCueries must

be e/aluated or each Cuali"ed row o the outer Cuery that is reerred to.

What are the issues related with correlated subCueries? - GS

???

What is a cursor? why should it be used? - GS

*ursor is a prorammin de/ice that allows the S$0$* to "nd a set o rows but

return them one at a time.

*ursor should be used because the host lanuae can deal with only one row at

a

time.

+ow would you retrie/e rows rom a >6 table in embedded S=0? - GS

$ither by usin the sinle row S$0$* statementsor by usin the *7%S'%.

!part rom cursor what other ways are a/ailable to you to retrie/e a row rom

a table in embedded S=0? - GS



Sinle row S$0$*s.

Where would you speciy the $*0!%$ *7%S'% statement? - GS

See answer to next Cuestion.

+ow do you speciy and use a cursor in a *'>'0 proram? - GS

7se $*0!%$ *7%S'% statement either in wor9in storae or in procedure

di/ision(beore open cursor) to speciy the S$0$* statement. hen use '#$

&$*+ rows in a loop and "nally *0'S$.

What happens when you say '#$ *7%S'%?

2 there is an '%$% >5 clause rows are etched sorted and made a/ailable or

the &$*+ statement. 'ther wise simply the cursor is placed on the "rst row.

2s $*0!%$ *7%S'% executable?

o.

*an you ha/e more than one cursor open at any one time in a proram ? - GS

5es.



When you *'2 is the cursor closed?

5es.

+ow do you lea/e the cursor open ater issuin a *'2? ( or >6 6.; or

abo/e only )

7se W2+ +'0 option in $*0!%$ *7%S'% statement. >ut it has not efect in

psuedo-con/ersational *2*S prorams.

Gi/e the *'>'0 de"nition o a <!%*+!% "eld.

! <!%*+!% column %$!%4S would be de"ned as ollows

1F %$!%4S.

L@ %$!%4S-0$ #2* S@(L) 7S!G$ *'#.

L@ %$!%4S-$8 #2* 8(1@6F).

What is the physical storae lenth o each o the ollowin >6 data types

!$ 2$ 2$S!#?

!$ Lbytes



2$ ;bytes

2$S!# 1Fbytes

What is the *'>'0 picture clause o the ollowin >6 data types

!$ 2$ 2$S!#?

!$ #2* 8(1F)

2$ #2* 8(FD)

2$S!# #2* 8(6E)

What is the *'>'0 picture clause or a >6 column de"ned as $*2!0(116)? -

GS

#2* S@(@)<@@ *'#-;.

ote 2n $*2!0(116) 11 indicates the siQe o the data type and 6 indicates

the precision.

What is *0G$ ? - GS

e*0arations G$erator used to create the host lanuae copy boo9s or the



table de"nitions. !lso creates the $*0!%$ table.

What are the contents o a *0G$? - GS

1. $8$* S=0 $*0!%$ !>0$ statement which i/es the layout o the table3/iew

in

terms o >6 datatypes.

6. ! host lanuae copy boo9 that i/es the host /ariable de"nitions or the

column names.

2s it mandatory to use *0G$? 2 not why would you use it at all? - GS

2t is not mandatory to use *0G$.

7sin *0G$ helps detect wronly spelt column names etc. durin the pre-

compile stae itsel ( because o the $*0!%$ !>0$ ). *0G$ bein a tool

would enerate accurate host /ariable de"nitions or the table reducin

chances o error.

2s $*0!%$ !>0$ in *0G$ necessary? Why it used?

2t not necessary to ha/e $*0!%$ !>0$ statement in *0G$. his is used by



the pre-compiler to /alidate the table-name /iew-name column name etc.

durin pre-compile.

Will precompile o an >6-*'>'0 proram bomb i >6 is down?

o. >ecause the precompiler does not reer to the >6 cataloue tables.

+ow is a typical >6 batch pm executed ?

1. 7se S utility to run a >6 batch proram rom nati/e S'. !n example is

shown

S S5S$(S#;)

%7 #%'G%!($LBF>) #0!($LBF>) 02>(J$GSF1.'>I.0'!02>J)

$

6. 7se 24I$&F1 utility proram to run the abo/e S command in a I*0.

!ssumin that a siteJs standard is that pm name K plan name what is the

easiest way to "nd out which pms are afected by chane in a tableJs

structure ?



=uery the cataloue tables S5S#0!$# and S5S#!*4$#.

ame some "elds rom S=0*!.

S=0*'$ S=0$%% S=0$%%

+ow can you Cuic9ly "nd out the T o rows updated ater an update statement?

*hec9 the /alue stored in S=0$%%(;).

What is $8#0!2? - GS

$8#0!2 is used to display the access path as determined by the optimiQer or a

S=0 statement. 2t can be used in S#7&2 (or sinle S=0 statement ) or in >2

step (or embedded S=0 ).

What do you need to do beore you do $8#0!2?

a9e sure that the #0!!>0$ is created under the !7+2.

Where is the output o $8#0!2 stored? - GS

2n userid.#0!!>0$

$8#0!2 has output with !*+*'0S K F. What does it mean? - GS



a nonmatchin index scan i !**$SS5#$ K 2.

+ow do you do the $8#0!2 o a dynamic S=0 statement?

1. 7se S#7&2 or =& to $8#0!2 the dynamic S=0 statement

6. 2nclude $8#0!2 command in the embedded dynamic S=0 statements

+ow do you simulate the $8#0!2 o an embedded S=0 statement in S#7&23=&?

Gi/e

an example with a host /ariable in W+$%$ clause.)

7se a Cuestion mar9 in place o a host /ariable ( or an un9nown /alue ). e..

S$0$* $#!$

&%' $#

W+$%$ $#S!0!%5 O ?

What are the isolation le/els possible ? - GS

*S *ursor Stability

%% %epeatable %ead

What is the diference between *S and %% isolation le/els?



*S %eleases the loc9 on a pae ater use

%% %etains all loc9s acCuired till end o transaction

Where do you speciy them ?

2S'0!2' 0$<$0 is a parameter or the bind process.

When do you speciy the isolation le/el? +ow?

urin the >2 process. 2S'0!2' ( *S3%% )...

2 use *S and update a pae. Will the loc9 be released ater 2 am done with

that pae?

o.

What are the /arious loc9in le/els a/ailable?

#!G$ !>0$ !>0$S#!*$

+ow does >6 determine what loc9-siQe to use?

1. >ased on the loc9-siQe i/en while creatin the tablespace

6. #rorammer can direct the >6 what loc9-siQe to use



;. 2 loc9-siQe !5 is speci"ed >6 usually choses a loc9-siQe o #!G$

What are the disad/antaes o #!G$ le/el loc9?

+i resource utiliQation i lare updates are to be done

What is loc9 escalation?

#romotin a #!G$ loc9-siQe to table or tablespace loc9-siQe when a transaction

has aCuired more loc9s than speci"ed in 704S. 0oc9s should be ta9en on

obPects in sinle tablespace or escalation to occur.

What are the /arious loc9s a/ailable?

S+!%$ $8*07S2<$ 7#!$

*an 2 use 0'*4 !>0$ on a /iew?

o. o loc9 a /iew ta9e loc9 on the underlyin tables.

What is !0$% ? - GS

S=0 command used to chane the de"nition o >6 obPects.

What is a >% #0! ?



>% ata>ase %eCuest odule has the S=0 statements extracted rom the

host

lanuae proram by the pre-compiler.

#0! ! result o the >2 process. 2t has the executable code or the S=0

statements in the >%.

What is !*=72%$3%$0$!S$ in >2?

etermine the point at which >6 acCuires or releases loc9s aainst table and

tablespaces includin intent loc9s.

What else is there in the #0! apart rom the access path? - GS

#0! has the executable code or the S=0 statements in the host proram

What happens to the #0! i index used by it is dropped?

#lan is mar9ed as in/alid. he next time the plan is accessed it is rebound.

What are #!*4!G$S ? - GS

hey contain executable code or S=0 statements or one >%.

What are the ad/antaes o usin a #!*4!G$?



1. !/oid ha/in to bind a lare number o >% members into a plan

6. !/oid cost o a lare bind

;. !/oid the entire transaction bein una/ailable durin bind and automatic

rebind o a plan

L. inmiQe allbac9 complexities i chanes result in an error.

What is a collection?

a user de"ned name that is the anchor or pac9aes. 2t has not physical

existence. ain usae is to roup pac9aes.

2n S#7&2 suppose you want to select max. o 1FFF rows but the select returns

only 6FF rows. What are the 6 sClcodes that are returned? - GS

1FF ( or successul completion o the Cuery ) F (or successul *'2 i

!7'*'2 is set to 5es).

+ow would you print the output o an S=0 statement rom S#7&2? - GS

#rint the output dataset.



+ow do you pull up a Cuery which was pre/iously sa/ed in =& ? - GS

??

0ot o updates ha/e been done on a table due to which indexes ha/e one

haywire. What do you do? - GS

0oo9s li9e index pae split has ocured. ' a %$'%G o the indexes.

What is dynamic S=0? - GS

ynamic S=0 is a S=0 statement created at proram execution time.

When is the access path determined or dynamic S=0? - GS

!t run time when the #%$#!%$ statement is issued.

Suppose 2 ha/e a proram which uses a dynamic S=0 and it has been perormin

well till now. 'f late 2 "nd that the perormance has deteriorated. What

happened? - GS

#robably %7 S!S is not done and the proram is usin a wron index due to

incorrect stats.



#robably %7S!S is done and optimiQer has chosen a wron access path based

on

the latest statistics.

+ow does >6 store 700 physically?

as an extra-byte pre"x to the column /alue. physically the nul pre"x is +ex

JFFJ i the /alue is present and +ex J&&J i it is not.

+ow do you retrie/e the data rom a nullable column? - GS

7se null indicators. Syntax ... 2' +'S<!%7002

What is the picture clause o the null indicator /ariable? - GS

S@(L) *'#.

What does it mean i the null indicator has -1 F -6? - GS

-1 the "eld is null

F the "eld is not null

-6 the "eld /alue is truncated

+ow do you insert a record with a nullable column?



o insert a 700 mo/e -1 to the null indicator

o insert a /alid /alue mo/e F to the null indicator

What is %7S!S? - GS

! >6 utility used to collect statistics about the data /alues in tables which

can be used by the optimiQer to decide the access path. 2t also collects

statistics used or space manaement. hese statistics are stored in >6

catalo tables.

When will you chose to run %7S!S?

!ter a load or ater mass updates inserts deletes or ater %$'%G.

Gi/e some example o statistics collected durin %7S!S?

T o rows in the table

#ercent o rows in clusterin seCuence

T o distinct /alues o indexed column

T o rows mo/ed to a nearby3arway pae due to row lenth increase



What is %$'%G? When is it used?

%$'%G reoraniQes data on physical storae to reclutser rows positionin

o/eRowed rows in their proper seCuence to reclaim space to restore ree

space. 2t is used ater hea/y updates inserts and delete acti/ity and ater

sements o a semented tablespace ha/e become raemented.

What is 2!G$*'#5 ? - GS

2t is ull bac9up o a >6 table which can be used in reco/ery.

When do you use the 2!G$*'#5? - GS

o ta9e routine bac9up o tables

!ter a 0'! with 0'G '

!ter %$'%G with 0'G '

What is *'#5 #$2G status?

! state in which an imae copy on a table needs to be ta9en 2n this status

the table is a/ailable only or Cueries. 5ou cannot update this table. o



remo/e the *'#5 #$2G status you ta9e an imae copy or use %$#!2% utility.

What is *+$*4 #$2G ?

When a table is 0'!ed with $&'%*$ ' option then the table is let in *+$*4

#$2G status. 2t means that the 0'! utility did not perorm constraint

chec9in.

What is =72$S*$?

! =72$S*$ Rushes all >6 bufers on to the dis9. his i/es a correct snapshot

o the database and should be used beore and ater any 2!G$*'#5 to maintain

consistency.

What is a clusterin index ? - GS

*auses the data rows to be stored in the order speci"ed in the index. !

mandatory index de"ned on a partitioned table space.

+ow many clusterin indexes can be de"ned or a table?

'nly one.



What is the diference between primary 9ey , uniCue index ?

#rimary a relational database constraint. #rimary 9ey consists o one or

more columns that uniCuely identiy a row in the table. &or a normaliQed

relation there is one desinated primary 9ey.

7niCue index a physical obPect that stores only uniCue /alues. here can be

one or more uniCue indexes on a table.

What is sClcode -@66 ?

!uthoriQation ailure

What is sClcode -D11?

S$0$* statement has resulted in retrie/al o more than one row.

What does the sClcode o -D1D pertain to? - GS

his is enerated when the consistency to9ens in the >% and the load module

are diferent.

!re /iews updatable ?



ot all o them. Some /iews are updatable e.. sinle table /iew with all the

"elds or mandatory "elds. $xamples o non-updatable /iews are /iews which are

Poins /iews that contain areate unctions(such as 2) and /iews that ha/e

G%'7# >5 clause.

2 2 ha/e a /iew which is a Poin o two or more tables can this /iew be

updatable? - GS

o.

What are the L en/ironments which can access >6 ?

S' *2*S 2S and >!*+

What is an inner Poin and an outer Poin ?

2nner Ioin combine inormation rom two or more tables by comparin all

/alues that meet the search criteria in hte desinated column or columns o on

etable with all the calues in correspondin columns o the other table or

tables. his 9ind o Poin which in/ol/e a match in both columns are called



inner Poins.

'uter Poin is one in which you want both matchin and non matchin rows to be

returned. >6 has no speci"c operator or outer Poins it can be simulated by

combinin a Poin and a correlated sub Cuery with a 72'.

What is &%$$#!G$ and #*&%$$ in !>0$S#!*$ creation?

#*&%$$ percentae o each pae to be let ree

&%$$#!G$ umber o paes to be loaded with data between each ree pae

What are simple semented and partitioned table spaces ?

Simple ablespace

*an contain one or more tables

%ows rom multiple tables can be interlea/ed on a pae under the >!s control

and maintenance

Semented ablespace

*an contain one or more tables



ablespace is di/ided into sements o L to EL paes in increments o L paes.

$ach sement is dedicated to sinle table. ! table can occupy multiple

sements

#artitioned ablespace

*an contain one table

ablespace is di/ided into parts and each part is put in a separate <S!

dataset.

What is "lter actor?

one di/ided by the number o distinct /alues o a column.

What is index cardinality? - GS

he number o distinct /alues a column or columns contain.

What is a synonym ?

Synonym is an alternate name or a table or /iew used mainly to hide the

leadin Cuali"er o a table or /iew.. ! synonym is accessible only by the



creator.

What is the diference between S5'5 and !02!S?

S5'5 is dropped when the table or tablespace is dropped. Synonym is

a/ailable only to the creator.

!02!S is retained e/en i table or tablespace is dropped. !02!S can be

created e/en i the table does not exist. 2t is used mainly in distributed

en/ironment to hide the location ino rom prorams. !lias is a lobal obPect ,

is a/ailable to all.

What do you mean by ' 700 W2+ $&!70? When will you use it?

his column cannot ha/e nulls and while insertion i no /alue is supplied then

it wil ha/e Qeroes spaces or date3time dependin on whether it is numeric

character or date3time.

7se it when you do not want to ha/e nulls but at the same time cannot i/e

/alues all the time you insert this row.



What do you mean by ' 700? When will you use it?

he column cannot ha/e nulls. 7se it or 9ey "elds.

When would you preer to use <!%*+!%?

When a column which contains lon text e.. remar9s notes may ha/e in most

cases less than HFV o the maximum lenth.

What are the disad/antaes o usin <!%*+!%?

1. *an lead to hih space utiliQation i most o the /alues are close to

maimum.

6. #ositionin o <!%*+!% column has to be done careully as it has perormance

implications.

;. %elocation o rows to diferent paes can lead to more 23's on retrie/al.

+ow do 2 create a table !!G$% ( $#T !!G$%) where !!G$% is a

orein 9ey

which reerences to $#T in the same table? Gi/e the exact 0.

&irst *%$!$ !!G$% table with $#T as the primary 9ey. hen !0$% it to



de"ne the orein 9ey.

When is the authoriQation chec9 on >6 obPects done - at >2 time or run time?

!t run time.

What is auditin?

%ecordin S=0 statements that access a table. Speci"ed at table creation time

or thru alter.

*2*S

+ow do you place the cursor on a particular position on the screen? - GS

o/e -1 to the lenth attribute o the "eld and use the *7%S'% option.

e"ne the "eld with 2* in the >S map.

7se *7%S'%(n m)??

What are the two outputs created as a result o eneration o a map? - GS

he map copyboo9 and the load module.

What is the diference between physical map and symbolic map? - GS



he physical map is the load module and the symbolic map is the data structure.

+ow do you protect a "eld rom bein o/erlaid? - GS

What is the attribute byte? - GS

e"nes the display3transmission o "eld. most cases is an output "eld rom

the proram.

+ow do you use extended attributes ?

e"ne $8!K5$S and the correct terminal type.

What are the ; wor9in storae "elds used or e/ery "eld on the map? - GS

0enth attribute and input3output "eld.

What is ? What are &S$ &%S$ ?

odi"ed ata a. >it in the attribute byte indicatin modi"cation o "eld

on screen. +appens on an input operation.

&S$. Sets on to ensure "eld is transmitted. +appens on an output

operation.



&%S$. %esets . 7ntil this happens "eld continues to be sent.

What is the use o S$* parameter in >S?

2s the parameter to enerate a symbolic map.

o you recei/e the attribute byte in the symbolic map?

'n $'& yes.

+ow do you ma9e your >S maps case sensiti/e?

7se !S2S???

What is efect on %$*$2<$ !# when

#& 9ey is pressed? ata transmission may happen

#! 9ey is pressed? ata transmission will not happen.

What are S$ !# !#'05 , S$ !# !!'05 ?

What is the diference between a #& 9ey , a #! 9ey ?

#& 9eys wa9e up the tas9 and transmit modi"ed data #! 9eys only wa9e up the

tas9.



ame the macros used to de"ne the ollowin

!# !#S$ &2$0

&+S &+2 &+&

*an you use '**7%S in a >S map? 2 you do what are the issues related with

its use?

5es. cannot use roup by clause???

*an you de"ne multiple maps in a >S mapset?

5es.

+ow is the storae determined in the symbolic map i you ha/e multiple maps?

Storae or maps rede"ne the "rst. his means larest map has to be the

"rst.

What is the meanin o >S lenth o "eld K F?

ata was not entered in the "eld

*an you simply chec9 i lenth K F or chec9in i a "eld was modi"ed?



o not i $%!S$ $'& was used.

What do you do i you do not want characters entered by the user to be olded

to uppercase ?

7se !S2S option on %$*$2<$.

What does the >7&&$% option in %$*$2<$ mean ?

>rins the entire datastream rom the terminal bufer.

What are the steps you o throuh to a create a >S executable?

!ssemble to create *S$* and 0in9

When you compile a *2*S proram the (pre)compiler puts an extra chun9 o

code.

Where does it et included and that is it called? What is its lenth? - GS

&+$2>04 &+*'!%$!.

0ist all the *2*S tables and explain their contents. - GS

## S2

#* I*



&* S

* S%

%* *

2 ha/e written a *2*S proram. What tables should 2 setup to run this proram?

- GS

## #* (&* * %* (i needed)).

2n which table would you ma9e an entry or a >S map? - GS

##

What is the content o the ## entry? - GS

0enth Source 7se count 0an %es count &+%#0 number

&or a *2*S->6 proram how is the plan reerenced? - GS

7ses a %* table.

+ow is dynamic memory allocated within a *2*S application proram? - GS

7se a G$!2



What are the restrictions while usin G$!2 and &%$$!2? - GS

What is the use o a = S=? - GS

emporary data stores.

+ow do you read rom a S=? - GS

emp storae read command

2 2 create a S= rom one transaction can 2 read it rom another transaction?

- GS

5es. !s lon as they run in the same reion.

What are extra partition , intra partition =s?

$xtra partition =s are datasets used or communication bJn *2*S and other

*2*S3>atch reions. 2ntrapartition =s are Cueues or communication within

ren.

What is trier le/el in the context o =s?

&or intrapartition =s speciy the T records at which !2 happens. not



applicable or extra partition =s.

+ow do you "re a batch Pob rom a *2*S txn ?

e"ne an extrapartition = as an internal reader and write the I*0 to it.

erminate the I*0 with 3$'&.

What is !2? What 9ind o = can be used?

!utomatic as9 2nitiation. 2ntra partition =.

o you reCuire a table entry or a S=?

2 reco/ery is needed.

2s there any entry or S=s in *2*S tables?

5es in the &+S.

What is the use o *?

estination *ontrol able used to de"ne =s

What is $= $= ?

as9 control commands to ma9e resources serially reusable.



2 ha/e S= with 1H items. 2 want to delete the 1Fth item. +ow do 2 do that?

*an you issue S=0 *'2 rom a *2*S proram? - GS

5es.

What is the other way o terminatin a transaction? - GS

$8$* *2*S S5*#'2. !ssumin it is a 07W. his will not end the 8n.

What is an !S%! abend ?

!ny data exception problem S'*B S'*L etc.

What is an !$5@ abend ?

>632S not up.

What are the situations under which $W*'#5 is reCuired ?

When a proram has been used in *2*S atleast once and then chaned and

recompiled.

What is 6 phase commit?

What is $8$* *2*S %$%2$<$ ?



7sed by S!%ed tas9s to et the parameters passed to them.

ame some important "elds in the $2> bloc9 ?

$2>%$S# $2>*!0$ $2>%%*$ $2>!S4 $2>!$ $2>2$

*an you use 5!2* calls in *2*S ?

5es the called routine must be de"ned in ## and the callin proram must use

*!00 identi"er..

+ow do you handle errors in *2*S pms ?

*hec9 $2>%$S# ater the call or use the +!0$ condition.

Suppose pm ! passes ;F bytes to pm > thru commarea and pm > has

de"ned its

&+*'!%$! to be HF bytes . 2s there a problem ?

5es i > tries to access bytes ;1-HF.

When an 8*0 is done does the tranid chane ? 2s a new tas9 created ? oes it

cause an

implicit S5*#'2 to be issued ?



o o 5es.

+ow do you execute a bac9round *2*S txn ?

With a S!% or !2.

*an a *2*S reion be attached to more than one >6 subsystem ?

What determines the >6 subsystem to which a particular *2*S reion is

attached

?

What is the S* transaction used or ?

+ow do you handle error in a *2*S proram?

Same as ;E.

What is the diference between S!% and 8*0 ?

S!% is used to start a new tas9. 2t is a inter/al control command. 8*0 is

used to pass control to a proram within the same tas9. 2t is a proram control

command.

What is the usae o lanuae in the ## entry?



0anuae interace and call parameters???

*an you ha/e *2*S code in a copyboo9? 2 yes what happens durin

compilation?

5es. eeds to be preprocessed.

What is an !2*! abend?

%unaway as9.

+ow would you resol/e an !S%! abend?

2n *'>'0 22 start with *$>% and et the ofset3instruction.

2 in/o9e a transaction rom *2*S. he proram has a code '<$

&+*'!%$! '

WS-!%$!. What happens to this transaction? What happens to the other

transactions?

Iun9 may et mo/ed in. Will cause Storae /iolation. ????

+ow do 2 "nd the name o the *2*S reion inside my *'>'0 proram?

When you do a S!% what will the /alue o $2>*!0$?

Aero.



+ow are <S! "les %ead in *2*S pms? - GS

&ile *ontrol *ommands. %andom SeCuential orward and bac9ward.

+ow will you access a <S! "le usin an alternate index?

hru the path. e"ne path as an &* and use normal &ile control commands.

+ow do you rollbac9 data written to an $SS "le?

e"ne the "le as reco/erable. in cases where records ha/e been inserted into

the "le you may need to run a batch proram to loically delete the inserted

records.

2 ha/e done a S!% >%'WS$ on a <S! dataset. *an 2 do another S!%

>%'WS$

without doin an $ >%'WS$?

o.

*an you access =S! (seC ) "les rom *2*S ?

o.

*an you access $SS "les rom *2*S ?



5es.

General

$xpect Cuestions about your pre/ious proPects - be clear about the

unctionality application siQe(no o tables no o transactions no o batch

Pobs) tech en/ironment(e.. was a Pob scheduler used ?) your role .

5ou should 9now what /ersions o sotware(>6 *2*S I$S <S) youJ/e wor9ed

with.

>e ready to i/e speci"c syntax i as9ed or. e.. i/e the condition code

statement in the I*0.

+a/e ull understandin o the role or which you are bein inter/iewed.

mainframe intreview question

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