Interview Questions

How do you sort in a COBOL program? Give sort file definition, sort statement syntax and meaning.

COBOL Interview Questions


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How do you sort in a COBOL program? Give sort file definition, sort statement syntax and meaning.

Syntax: SORT file-1 ON ASCENDING/DESCENDING KEY key ... USING file-2 GIVING file-3.
USING can be substituted by INPUT PROCEDEURE IS para-1 THRU para-2
GIVING can be substituted by OUTPUT PROCEDEURE IS para-1 THRU para-2


file-1 is the sort (work) file and must be described using SD entry in FILE SECTION.
file-2 is the input file for the SORT and ust be described using an FD entry in FILE SECTION and SELECT clause in FILE CONTROL.
file-3 is the out file from the SORT and must be described using an FD entry in FILE SECTION and SELECT clause in FILE CONTROL.
file-1, file-2 and file-3 should not be opened explicitly.


INPUT PROCEDURE is executed before the sort and resort must be RELEASED to the sort work file from the imput procedure.
OUTPUT PROCEDURE is executed after all records have been sorted. Records from the sort work file must be RETURNed one at a time to the output procedure.

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