IBM Mainframe Forum

by **ranga_subham** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:22 pm

Hi,

I am not able to understand this basic concept somehow ! Please help.

Below job produces same output for both steps. So, what is the use of mentioning multiple fields in SORT FIELDS?

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//STEP0001 EXEC PGM=SORT
//SORTIN DD *
KRITCHA 01 070175
ROSANAR 02 061585
MOHANRU 05 121288
VISHHNU 04 010175
ARINDAM 03 110772
//SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=*
//SORTOUT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD *
SORT FIELDS=(1,7,CH,A,9,2,CH,A,12,6,CH,A)
/*
//*
//STEP0002 EXEC PGM=SORT
//SORTIN DD *
KRITCHA 01 070175
ROSANAR 02 061585
MOHANRU 05 121288
VISHHNU 04 010175
ARINDAM 03 110772
//SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=*
//SORTOUT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD *
SORT FIELDS=(1,7,CH,A,12,6,CH,A)
/*

Output from STEP0001:

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ARINDAM 03 110772
KRITCHA 01 070175
MOHANRU 05 121288
ROSANAR 02 061585
VISHHNU 04 010175

Output from STEP0002:

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ARINDAM 03 110772
KRITCHA 01 070175
MOHANRU 05 121288
ROSANAR 02 061585
VISHHNU 04 010175

Would you please help me understanding this concept?

Thanks.

by **Bill Dennis** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:37 pm

The purpose of multiple sort fileds is to properly sequence multiple records with the same primary key ( 1-7 ). If ARINDAM had three records with unique values in columns 9 and 10 the results would be different.

Your sample is so small you don't see the effect.

IBM Mainframe Forum

Why do we use multiple fields in SORT FIELDS?

Why do we use multiple fields in SORT FIELDS?

Re: Why do we use multiple fields in SORT FIELDS?