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Question-1. What is RPG in the context of IBM?
Answer-1: RPG (Report Program Generator) is a high-level programming language developed by IBM for business applications.
Question-2. What platforms does RPG run on?
Answer-2: RPG primarily runs on IBM i (formerly AS/400, iSeries) systems.
Question-3. What are the different versions of RPG?
Answer-3: The main versions are RPG II, RPG III, RPG/400, and RPG IV (also known as RPGLE).
Question-4. What is RPGLE?
Answer-4: RPGLE stands for RPG IV, a modern version of RPG with enhanced features like free-form syntax.
Question-5. What is the purpose of H-spec in RPG?
Answer-5: The H-spec (Header specification) is used to define program-wide attributes such as options and file overrides.
Question-6. How do you declare a variable in RPG?
Answer-6: Use the D specification, e.g., D VarName S 10A.
Question-7. What are the data types available in RPG?
Answer-7: Common data types are A (Alphanumeric), P (Packed Decimal), S (Zoned Decimal), and B (Binary).
Question-8. What is a packed decimal in RPG?
Answer-8: A packed decimal is a numeric format that stores two digits per byte, reducing storage space.
Question-9. How do you define a file in RPG?
Answer-9: Use the F specification, e.g., FFileName IF E DISK.
Question-10. What is a subfile in RPG?
Answer-10: A subfile is a collection of records displayed on a screen, used for interactive programs.
Question-11. What is the purpose of C-spec in RPG?
Answer-11: C-spec (Calculation specification) is used for arithmetic, logic, and program control statements.
Question-12. How do you perform a loop in RPG?
Answer-12: Use DO, FOR, or DOW loops, e.g., DOW Condition; ... ENDDO.
Question-13. What is a key field in RPG?
Answer-13: A key field is used to sort and access records in a file, defined in the F specification.
Question-14. What is a record format in RPG?
Answer-14: A record format defines the structure of a record in a file, including field names and types.
Question-15. How do you read a file in RPG?
Answer-15: Use the READ opcode to read a single record, e.g., READ FileName.
Question-16. How do you write to a file in RPG?
Answer-16: Use the WRITE opcode, e.g., WRITE RecordFormat.
Question-17. What is an indicator in RPG?
Answer-17: Indicators are single-character variables (*INxx) used to control program flow or logic.
Question-18. How do you call a subprocedure in RPG?
Answer-18: Use the CALLP opcode, e.g., CALLP MyProcedure(Param1: Param2).
Question-19. What is the difference between *ON and *OFF in RPG?
Answer-19: *ON represents true, and *OFF represents false, used with indicators.
Question-20. What is a prototype in RPG?
Answer-20: A prototype defines the interface of a procedure or program, including parameters and return type.
Question-21. How do you handle errors in RPG?
Answer-21: Use MONITOR, ON-ERROR, and ENDMON blocks for structured error handling.
Question-22. What is the purpose of /FREE in RPG?
Answer-22: /FREE allows writing code in free-form syntax, making it more readable and modern.
Question-23. How do you concatenate strings in RPG?
Answer-23: Use the + operator or the CAT opcode, e.g., Var1 = Var2 + Var3.
Question-24. What is an RPG cycle?
Answer-24: The RPG cycle is the implicit processing model that handles input, calculations, and output.
Question-25. How do you define constants in RPG?
Answer-25: Use the D specification with the CONST keyword, e.g., D Pi C CONST(3.14159).
Question-26. How do you define an array in RPG?
Answer-26: Use the D specification with the DIM keyword, e.g., D MyArray S 10A DIM(5).
Question-27. What is the purpose of a service program in RPG?
Answer-27: A service program contains reusable procedures and functions shared across applications.
Question-28. How do you update a record in RPG?
Answer-28: Use the UPDATE opcode, e.g., UPDATE RecordFormat.
Question-29. What is the difference between RPG IV and RPG Free?
Answer-29: RPG Free is a syntax style within RPG IV that eliminates column restrictions and supports free-form coding.
Question-30. How do you execute SQL in RPG?
Answer-30: Use embedded SQL with EXEC SQL, e.g., EXEC SQL SELECT * INTO :Var FROM MyTable.
Question-31. How do you define a procedure in RPG?
Answer-31: Use the P specification, e.g., P MyProcedure B EXPORT.
Question-32. What is the purpose of CHAIN in RPG?
Answer-32: CHAIN retrieves a specific record by key, e.g., CHAIN KeyValue FileName.
Question-33. How do you define a data structure in RPG?
Answer-33: Use the D specification with DS, e.g., D MyDS DS.
Question-34. What is a logical file in RPG?
Answer-34: A logical file is an indexed view of a physical file, used for custom sorting and selection.
Question-35. How do you clear a variable in RPG?
Answer-35: Use the CLEAR opcode, e.g., CLEAR VarName.
Question-36. What is a copybook in RPG?
Answer-36: A copybook is a reusable source file included in other programs with the /COPY directive.
Question-37. How do you declare global variables in RPG?
Answer-37: Use the D specification at the beginning of the program without the P block.
Question-38. What is the EXFMT opcode in RPG?
Answer-38: EXFMT combines WRITE and READ for a record format, used in interactive programs.
Question-39. How do you create a module in RPG?
Answer-39: Use the CRTRPGMOD command to create an RPG module.
Question-40. What is a binding directory in RPG?
Answer-40: A binding directory is a collection of service programs and modules used for linking at runtime.
Question-41. How do you declare a file for input and output in RPG?
Answer-41: Use IF for input and OF for output in the F specification, e.g., FMyFile IF E.
Question-42. What is the difference between RETURN and LEAVE?
Answer-42: RETURN exits a procedure, while LEAVE exits a loop.
Question-43. How do you debug an RPG program?
Answer-43: Use IBM i debug tools like STRDBG or RDi (Rational Developer for i).
Question-44. What is a program-described file?
Answer-44: A program-described file does not use an external DDS or DDL; its fields are defined in the program.
Question-45. How do you check for end-of-file in RPG?
Answer-45: Use the *INxx indicator or EOF condition on file operations like READ.
Question-46. How do you use a qualified data structure?
Answer-46: Add the QUALIFIED keyword in the data structure definition to prefix fields with the structure name.
Question-47. What is an externally described file?
Answer-47: An externally described file uses field definitions from DDS or a database schema.
Question-48. How do you pass parameters to a subprocedure?
Answer-48: Use the PI (Procedure Interface) specification and define parameters with the D specification.
Question-49. What is a work file in RPG?
Answer-49: A work file (WORKSTN) is used for temporary storage of data during program execution.
Question-50. How do you handle null values in RPG?
Answer-50: Use the IF %NULLIND function or check the null indicator for database fields.
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