VSAM Interview Questions & Answers!!! I hope you are at the right place to learn VSAM interview questions and to crack your VSAM interview.

Then Are you looking for a powerful and effective data storage solution for your business? (VSAM) Virtual storage access is the solution, VSAM enables all businesses to efficiently handle data.

It provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to protecting sensitive information in an organization that goes beyond existing methods.

VSAM Interview Questions & Answers:

1. What is VSAM?

VSAM is an independent database that stores large volumes of data and is mainly used for searching information. It maintains a master information for all the entire master data set.

2. What are the main functions of VSAM?

VSAM allows for the creation, modification, and deletion of data sets, as well as the transfer of data between different PS parties. It is essential for managing large volumes of data and maintaining a master information.

3. IDCAMS (Integrated Data Cluster Access Method Services) used for?

The IDCAMS utility is used for creating entry sequential data set ESDS (Entry-sequenced Data Set), KSDS, and RTS files.

4. What is the difference between import and export in IDCAMS?

Import and export are used to take backups of both visa and files. Flat files are mainly used for backup, while non-flat files are divided into VSAMs (ESDS, KSDS, RRDS, and LDS).

5. What are the parameters needed to create a cluster using the IDCAMS utility?

The parameters needed to create a cluster include the cluster name, tracks, record sites, non-index, and controls interval sites.

6. Which the data component generated for an LDS cluster?

The data component is generated as a data component, and there is no index component for an LDS cluster.

7. What is the difference between an RRDS (Relative-Record Data Set) cluster and an ESDS cluster?

The RRDS cluster has only a data component and a cluster component, while the ESDS cluster has no record size or index file.

8. What is the context of the handling of multiple files in a Cobol program?

Multiple files are needed for real-time processing in a Cobol program. Performance efficiency relies on file requirements.

9. What are arrays in Cobol?

In Cobol, arrays store and organize many values of the same kind. Class, linear search, and binary search arrays exist.

10. What are subscripts, indexes, and subscripts in Cobol?

Cobol manipulates array elements using subscripts, indexes, and subscripts. The index is the number of elements in an array, whereas the subscript is its position.

11. What are subprograms in Cobol?

Cobol subprograms can be invoked and executed independently. Subprograms may be static, dynamic, call by reference, or call by value. Understanding subprograms, as covered by DB2 and CSS, is required for cobol modification.

12. What is virtual storage access method (VISA) in Cobol?

VISA, or virtual storage access mechanism, allows Cobol code to store and access tape data. VISA non-visiting and visa data sets have two data kinds. Non-visiting data sets can store data on disk or tape but cannot enable CACS or file deletion. Visa data sets support CACS and are tape-only.

13. What are CACS?

CACS meets the Case Management Institute International requirements. CACS is a feature-rich corporate process and workflow management solution. Automating and simplifying business operations increases efficiency, cost savings, and customer service.

14. How do visa and non-visiting data sets differ in Cobol?

Non-visiting data sets can only hold disk or tape data; they cannot erase files or enable CACS. Visa data sets provide primary key creation and column-specific data storage. This versatility is essential for Cobol Modulation and CFT effectiveness.

15. What are the differences between P.S and D.S files?

While P.S files are compatible with both tape and Dashing, DS files are limited to D (Dash) and do not support CACS (Case Analysis Compliant System). Both KS and RRDS (Relative-Record Data Set) are elements of a record structure where a main key identifies a particular record.

16. What are the functions of REPRO, altar, Print, and list cat in ID Camps?

Data can be copied from one visa to another using REPRO, and data can have its properties changed using Altar. You can print the visa data to a PS (physical sequential file) file using print, and you can retrieve information about the data set, attributes, history, and delete records using list cat.

17. What are the main functions of VSAM?

VSAM is an independent database that stores raw volume of data and is primarily used for searching information.

18. How is data stored in VSAM?

Data is stored in VSAM by creating a visa and data sets, accessing them through batch processes or online processes.

19. What is LISTCAT in VZM?

LISTCAT is used to check the availability of a VZM file, view its properties, capture written code, and make decisions in real-time environments.

20. What is a print command?

A print command is used to print and read the contents of a VSAM data set file.

21. What is the difference between print and dump in a print command?

Print and dump are different options available in a print command file working with a VSAM file. In print mode, the data is displayed on the screen, while in dump mode, the data is stored in a file.

22. What is the concept of REPRO (Replacement) in VSAM?

REPRO(Replacement) is a concept in VSAM that allows users to copy data from a PS (physical sequential file) file to a KSDS file, PS2 ESDS, PS2 RRDS, and PS2 LDS. It also supports copying from KSDS to PS, KSDS to RRDS, ASDS to PS, RRDS to PS, and vice versa.

23. What are the main advantages of a REPRO command?

The main advantages of a REPRO (Replacement) command are that it can be used in a JCL (Job Control Language) to copy the data and EDS (Entry Sequenced Data Set) input data, IDS transfer input data stream, source file, and ODS (output data stream), followed by the destination file name.

24. What is DITTO (Data Interfile Transfer, Testing, and Operations)?

DITTO is a tool that is used to read data from a VSAM file.

25. What is the main difference between KSDS and ESDS?

KSDS stores data automatically in a sorted order, while ESDS is equivalent to a sequential file.

26. What is the creation of LDS?

LDS (Linear data set) is a cluster that is equivalent to an A line sequential file.

27. What is the creation of a VSAM file?

The Job Card (JCL) can be used to construct a VSAM file, specifically a TSO VSAM cluster, which is a basic VSAM cluster. Make use of VSAM files in a Cobol application that writes records to VSAM files.

28. What is the identification division program?

The identification division program is a portion of a Cobol program that includes program-specific information such as the program’s name and author.

29. What is the file control section?

The file control section is a section of a Cobol program that contains information about the files used by the program, such as the file name, organization, and access mode.

30. What is the assignment of organization and access mode in a Cobol program?

The assignment of organization and access mode are keywords used during mapping between the logical to physical file, indicating whether accessing is sequential order random order or dynamic.

Now, Let’s have an overview of VSAM in the form of MCQ’S

1)What is VSAM?

1. A virtual storage access method used in mainframe data management

2. A standalone database that holds raw data for searches.

3. A system used for data backup

4. A flat file used for non-flat files

2) What are VSAM files?

1. Flat files used for data backup

2. Non-flat files developed into VSAM

3. Files with name, data, and index components

4. All of the above

3) What is the main advantage of LISTCAT?

1. It allows you to work on different options using LISTCAT

2. It gives data pertaining to statistics.

3. It provides statistics on how the data set was distributed.

4. All of the above

4) Which tool is used to read data from a VSAM file?

1. IDCAMPS

2. DITTO

3. LISTCAT

4. REPRO

5) What is the main advantage of a REPRO command?

1. It can be used to copy data from a Ps file to a KSDS file

2. The input data stream can be transferred using it.

3. The data set can be seen using it.

4. A VSAM data set’s contents can be printed using it.

I hope you have gained the enough knowledge for your next interview.

All the Best!!!