SORT Operator (for Experienced)


  • SORT operator sorts a dataset into one or more output datasets.
  • SORT operator allows up to 10 input datasets.
  • The DFSORT control statements in xxxxCNTL are used if USING(xxxx) is specified.
  • DFSORT control statements are used to copy a subset of the input records, reformat records, etc.

Syntax -

SORT Operator

Required Operands


FROM -

  • FROM parameter specifies ddname of the input file.
  • indd DD statement is mandatory if FROM operand specified.

JKFROM -

  • JKFORM is used for a JOIN KEYS application.
  • JKFROM is mandatory for USING(xxxx) operand.
  • In xxxxCNTL, a JOINKEYS statement should provide F1=ddname1 for the F1 file, F2=ddname2 for the F2 file, JOIN and REFORMAT statements according to the requirement.

USING -

  • USING operand specifies the first 4-characters of the ddname (xxxxCNTL) for the DFSORT control statement file.
  • XXXX name is the user-defined name.
  • xxxxCNTL DD statement is mandatory if USING(xxxx) is specified.
  • Either TO, USING, or both operands can code at the same time.

Optional Operands


TO -

  • TO operand specifies 1 to 10 ddnames of output files.
  • outdd DD statement is mandatory if TO operand specified
  • Either TO, USING, or both operands can code at the same time.

VSAMTYPE -

  • VSAMTYPE operand specifies the record format for a VSAM input file (F or V).

Example -


Scenario - Sort the employee records based on employee name (15 character length from 6th position).

INPUT - MATEPK.INPUT.PSFILE

 BROWSE    MATEPK.INPUT.PSFILE                        Line 00000000 Col 001 080 
 Command ===>                                                  Scroll ===> CSR  
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8
********************************* Top of Data **********************************
001  PAWAN         MAINFRAME           JPM       AP        IN                   
002  SRINIVAS      TESTING             ORACLE    TG        IN                   
003  SRIDHAR       SAS                 CG        OR        US                   
004  VENKATESH     ABAP                CSC       CA        IN                   
005  RAVI          HADOOP              CTS       FL        US                   
006  PRASAD        HR                  INFOSYS   MI        US                   
007  RAJA          TESTING             IBM       CA        US                   
******************************** Bottom of Data ********************************

JCL -

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7--
***************************** Top of Data ******************************
//MATEPKIT JOB (123),'MATEPK',CLASS=A,MSGCLASS=A,MSGLEVEL=(1,1),        
//             NOTIFY=&SYSUID                                           
//*                                                                     
//STEP01   EXEC PGM=ICETOOL                                             
//INDD     DD DSN=MATEPK.INPUT.PSFILE,DISP=SHR                          
//OUTDD    DD DSN=MATEPK.OUTPUT.PSFILEST,                               
//            DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),VOLUME=SER=DEVHD4,                
//            SPACE=(TRK,(1,1),RLSE),UNIT=SYSDA,                        
//            DCB=(DSORG=PS,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800)              
//TOOLIN   DD *                                                         
  SORT   FROM(INDD) TO(OUTDD) USING(CTL1)                               
/*                                                                      
//CTL1CNTL DD *                                                         
  SORT FIELDS=(6,15,CH,A)                                               
/*                                                                      
//TOOLMSG  DD SYSOUT=*                                                  
//DFSMSG   DD SYSOUT=*                                                  
//                                                                      
**************************** Bottom of Data ****************************

OUTPUT - MATEPK.OUTPUT.PSFILE

 BROWSE    MATEPK.OUTPUT.PSFILEST                     Line 00000000 Col 001 080 
 Command ===>                                                  Scroll ===> CSR  
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8
********************************* Top of Data **********************************
001  PAWAN         MAINFRAME           JPM       AP        IN                   
006  PRASAD        HR                  INFOSYS   MI        US                   
007  RAJA          TESTING             IBM       CA        US                   
005  RAVI          HADOOP              CTS       FL        US                   
003  SRIDHAR       SAS                 CG        OR        US                   
002  SRINIVAS      TESTING             ORACLE    TG        IN                   
004  VENKATESH     ABAP                CSC       CA        IN                   
******************************** Bottom of Data ********************************

TOOLMSG (SDSF SPOOL) - Verify TOOLMSG for the return code of the submitted job.

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8----+----9
********************************* TOP OF DATA ********************************************
1ICE600I 0 DFSORT ICETOOL UTILITY RUN STARTED                                   
                                                                                
 ICE650I 0 VISIT http://www.ibm.com/storage/dfsort FOR ICETOOL PAPERS, EXAMPLES AND MORE 
                                                                                
 ICE632I 0 SOURCE FOR ICETOOL STATEMENTS:  TOOLIN                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
 ICE630I 0 MODE IN EFFECT:  STOP                                                
                                                                                
             SORT   FROM(INDD) TO(OUTDD) USING(CTL1)                            
 ICE606I 0 DFSORT CALL 0001 FOR SORT  FROM INDD     TO OUTDD    USING CTL1CNTL COMPLETED
 ICE602I 0 OPERATION RETURN CODE:  00                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
 ICE601I 0 DFSORT ICETOOL UTILITY RUN ENDED - RETURN CODE:  00                  
******************************** BOTTOM OF DATA ******************************************

Explaining Solution -

  • INDD - Specifies the ddname for input file.
  • OUTDD - Specifies the ddname for output file.
  • TOOLIN DD * - Specifies the ICETOOL statements for DFSORT.
  • TOOLMSG - Specifies where to write the ICETOOL processing messages.
  • DFSMSG - Specifies where to write the DFSORT processing messages.
  • CTL1CNTL DD * - Specifies the DFSORT statements for processing.
  • SORT FROM(INDD) TO(OUTDD) USING(CTL1) - Sorts the indd records and copies to OUTDD based on the selection criteria in CTL1.
  • SORT FIELDS=(50,2,CH,A) - Sorts the records in ascending order based on the data of length 15 from 6th position.