COBOL 400 Assessment Test

A COBOL 400 Assessment Test evaluates candidates for their proficiency in using COBOL 400, a version of the COBOL programming language designed for IBM's AS/400 (now IBM i) systems. COBOL 400 is widely used in business, finance, and administrative systems for companies and governments.

A COBOL 400 Assessment Test evaluates candidates for:

• COBOL 400 Basics: Understanding of COBOL 400 syntax, structure, and programming constructs. This includes familiarity with the divisions, sections, and paragraphs of a COBOL program.
• AS/400 Environment: Knowledge of the AS/400 system architecture, including libraries, files, members, and job processing. Proficiency in navigating and using the AS/400 system commands and tools.
• Data Types and Structures: Skills in defining and using various data types and data structures in COBOL 400, including elementary and group items, arrays (tables), and records.
• File Handling: Proficiency in handling different types of files (sequential, indexed, and relative) in COBOL 400. This includes file definition, reading, writing, updating, and deleting records.
• Database Interaction: Understanding of database concepts and the ability to interact with databases using COBOL 400, including embedded SQL for database operations.
• Control Structures: Knowledge of control structures in COBOL 400, such as IF statements, PERFORM loops, and EVALUATE statements for conditional processing and iteration.
• String Handling and Data Manipulation: Skills in string handling, data manipulation, and arithmetic operations in COBOL 400. This includes using built-in functions for string processing, date handling, and numeric computations.
• Error Handling and Debugging: Proficiency in implementing error handling mechanisms in COBOL 400 programs and using debugging tools to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Subroutines and Modules: Understanding of creating and using subroutines, functions, and modular programming in COBOL 400 for code reusability and maintainability.
• Report Generation: Ability to design and generate reports using COBOL 400, including formatting output, calculating summaries, and presenting data in a readable format.
• AS/400 Utilities and Tools: Familiarity with AS/400 utilities and tools commonly used in COBOL 400 development, such as PDM (Programming Development Manager), SEU (Source Entry Utility), and SDA (Screen Design Aid).
• Code Optimization and Performance: Knowledge of techniques for optimizing COBOL 400 code for better performance and efficiency, including efficient use of I/O operations and memory management.
• Testing and Quality Assurance: Understanding of testing methodologies and practices for ensuring the quality and reliability of COBOL 400 programs, including unit testing, integration testing, and system testing.
• Version Control and Deployment: Skills in using version control systems for managing COBOL 400 source code and deploying applications in the AS/400 environment.
• Legacy System Integration: Experience in integrating COBOL 400 applications with other legacy systems and modern technologies, ensuring interoperability and data exchange.

Overall, our COBOL 400 Assessment Test measures candidates' proficiency in developing, maintaining, and optimizing COBOL 400 applications on the IBM AS/400 platform, providing valuable insights for organizations that rely on these systems for their critical business operations.