SORT Operator
SORT Operator (for Experienced)
Summary
For basic information, go through the SORT Operator (for Beginners)
- 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 -

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.