Sorting variable-length records
Your sort work file will be variable length only if you define it to be variable length, even if the input file to the sort contains variable-length records.
The
compiler determines that the sort work file is variable length if
you code one of the following elements in the SD
entry:
- A
RECORD IS VARYING
clause - Two or more record descriptions that define records that have
different sizes, or records that contain an
OCCURS DEPENDING ON
clause
You cannot use RECORDING MODE V
for the
sort work file because the SD
entry does not allow
the RECORDING MODE
clause.
Performance
consideration: To improve sort performance of variable-length
files, specify the most frequently occurring record length of the
input file (the modal length) on the SMS=
control
card or in the SORT-MODE-SIZE
special register.