5.4.2 Sort File Description Entry

A sort file description entry describes the physical structure for a sort file.

General Format

SD file-name

   [ RECORD { CONTAINS [min TO] max CHARACTERS } ]
            { IS VARYING IN SIZE [ FROM min ]  }
            {        [ TO max ] CHARACTERS     }

   [ DATA { RECORD IS   } {record-name} ... ]
          { RECORDS ARE }

   [ VALUE OF FILE-ID IS id-name ]

Syntax Rules

1. File-name must refer to a file name contained in a SELECT clause in the Environment Division. That SELECT clause may contain only ASSIGN and FILE STATUS clauses. However, a PASSWORD clause, TRACK-AREA clause, PROCESSING MODE clause, FILE-LIMIT clause, VALUE OF clause, and may appear when the compiler is in the IBM DOS/VS COBOL compatibility mode. These phrases are scanned, but otherwise they are ignored.

2. The clauses following file-name may appear in any order.

3. Id-name must be either a non-numeric literal or the name of an alphanumeric data item in Working Storage. The value of this name is used as the file's external name.

4. If a file-spec is specified in the file's ASSIGN clause, id-name must be identical to file-spec.

5. One or more record description entries must follow a sort file description entry.

General Rules

1. No I/O statement may refer to a file described by a sort file description entry. Only the SORT and MERGE statements may refer to file-name.

2. The sort file description entry clauses are described in the following sections.