DFSORT data destruction problem

P.RAJESH · New User Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 54 Location: chennai

hi all,

I have a sort step, sort in containing two ps files ( take example AAA.TEST.TEST1,BBB.TEST.TEST2) and sortout ps file is AAA.TEST.TEST1
both input files conatinng large amount of data(millions of records).

Is any data destruction problem will occur ?
(i mean same file using as input and output )

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:14 pm

This has been asked and answered many times.

expat · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:19 pm

And I for one would NEVER do that

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:49 pm

Hello,

There is NO reason to write over one of the input files.

When there is an abend, you have destroyed that input and will have to re-create it.

Frank Yaeger · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:42 pm

You SHOULD NOT use the same data set for input and output for a COPY or MERGE application.

You can use the same data set for input and output for a SORT application, but it's generally a bad idea since you can lose the data set if an error occurs (e.g I/O error). Of course, if you don't care if the data set is destroyed (e.g. you have a backup) then you can do it. We call it a "suicide sort".