| SORT | FIELDS=[(p,m,f,s) | (p,m,s),FORMAT=f | COPY | (COPY) ],
[ EQUALS | NOEQUALS ],
[ SKIPREC=k ],
[ STOPAFT=a ],
[ Y2PAST=y ],
[ FILES=n ] |
The SORT control statement must be used when a sorting application is performed; this statement describes the control fields in the input records on which the program sorts. A SORT statement can also be used to specify a copy application.
FIELDS parameter
Describes the control fields for which records must be sorted. Requires four facts about each control field in the input records:
Facts
|
Description
|
p
|
the position of the field within the record
|
l
|
the length of the field
|
f
|
the format of the data in the field (my be omitted if FORMAT is specified).
It may assume any supported format. See the FORMAT parameter for the list of supported formats.
|
s
|
sequence into which the field is to be sorted (A or D)
|
The ordering sequence s may be:
Sequence
|
Description
|
A
|
ascending
|
D
|
descending
|
FORMAT parameter
Defines the format for the control fields. This option may be used only if all the fields have the same format.
Supported formats:
Format
|
Length in bytes
|
Description
|
BI
|
1-4092
|
unsigned binary
|
CH
|
1-4092
|
character
|
CE
|
1-4096
|
EBCDIC character
|
AQ
|
1-4096
|
character with alternate collating sequence
|
PD
|
1-32
|
signed packed decimal
|
ZD
|
1-32
|
signed zoned decimal
|
FI
|
1-256
|
signed fixed-point
|
Y2C or Y2Z
|
2
|
two digit char or zoned year
|
Y2B
|
1
|
two digit binary year
|
Y2P
|
2
|
two digit packed year
|
BL
|
2,4,8
|
2, 4 or 8 byte long little endian binary
|
COPY parameter
When the COPY parameter is specified no SORT occurs on input records.
Option
|
Description
|
[NO]EQUALS
|
only for compatibility reason: XSORT 2 always preserve the original sequence
|
SKIPREC=k
|
skips the first k input records while processing
|
STOPAFT=a
|
stop reading input after a records
|
Y2PAST=y
|
sets the Y2K threshold to y
|
FILES=y
|
sets number of SORTIN files (VSE mode)y
|
|
