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DFSORT Tutorial.

IBM supplied a utility to sort, Merge, Copy a PS dataset into another PS dataset.

DFSORT gives you versatile data handling capabilities.

The input to this operation is a dataset which contains record which you want to sort, Merge, Copy into output dataset.

So Input dataset will remain as it is and according to given condition your output dataset will change like rec. In ascending or descending order etc.

Sorting Dataset.

SORT means Arrange a dataset.

It’s easy to sort a dataset having few records manually but when a records are more then you need to use DFSORT utility.

Utility name is DFSORT but while defining a program the name of program must be SORT.

SYNTAX:

Step1 exec PGM=SORT

I will show you all the Sort option with program so you will understand.

1)SORT by Ascending Order 

Here my input dataset contains below 5 records now i have to sort It with Ascending order and put the ascending output records in AK999.PS.NEW which is my output dataset.

Nextt step is write a SORT program.

SORTIN is the name of my input dataset.

SORTOUT is my output dataset which i am going to create so i have given its all parameter.

If you have already a dataset created then use DISP=OLD.

SYNTAX of SORT card:

SORT FIELDS=(1,5,CH,A)

(1,5)-This is my key field to tell operating system that the starting position of my input dataset column is from 1 and it will continues next 5 bytes so Sort the record by reffering these key field.

CH- This is format of my dataset record. It will tell the operating system that my data contain character as well as number fields. This is commonly used parameter also we can use

ZD- will tell operating system that my data is numeric one though it contain + or –ve sign.

A or D- A for Ascending Order and D is for Descending order.

After submitting job will gives me MAXCC=00 and my output dataset contents are:

2)SORT by Descending Order

This will arrange records in descending order.

Just one change in above program in the SORT control card just replace A by D.

SYNTAX:

SORT FIELDS=(1,5,CH,D)

Can I SORT my input file itself Ascending or Descending?

Yes you can just open the input file in edit mode

In command window just type SORT A or SORT D and press enter you will see the changes in input file itself.

My input file records are:

My Command :

OUTPUT:

If you want to use multiple columns then see below command will also accept :

How to SORT the records by considering multiple Key Fields?

Suppose my input dataset has following data:

First field is Name of Employee

Second field is Shift allowance 

Third field is Department

My requirement is I have to sort the records according to Name field and Shift allowance field

So my SORT card will tell the operating system please check both two fields and satisfy both condition and arrange data for me in my output dataset.

Name field is within column 1-7 (6 bytes) and

Shift allowance field is within column 9-14 (5 bytes).

Order is Ascending or Descending.

Sort Program:

SORT card is:

Or same command you can hit on command line when you open file in EDIT mode like below:

If my input dataset has duplicate records How can i eliminate?

See following data in my input file:

Here Avinash is duplicate record and i have to eliminate duplicate records while rearranging so i just add one line in my control card i.e.

SUM FIELDS=NONE

Program :

OUTPUT:

If i want to copy all eliminated records in one dataset then i use XSUM field as well as add SORTXSUM Dataset name in program like below.

How to SUM up the column values?

Input dataset:

Now i have to add middle column so i use below program to sum up middle columns value:

It will give me the output

Copying dataset using SORT option.

If i want to copy a dataset as it is through DFSORT utility as i can copy it through IEBCOPY utility also.

Input file:

Program:

Output: