DFSORT - use the DSN of one of the input as output

anita_lao · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

Would like to use the DSN of one of the input file as output DSN.

Frank Yaeger · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:53 am

Are you asking if you can use the same data set for SORTIN and SORTOUT? Is the data set VSAM or non-VSAM? Are you trying to do a sort, a merge or a copy?

If that's not what you're asking, please explain more clearly what it is you want to do.

anita_lao · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

Doing a merge. One of input is dsn.g0030v00, output is dsn.g0030v00. I can create a temporary file with the merge, delete the file and then copy the temporary file to the old file name. Is there a way of doing the three steps in one step.

Frank Yaeger · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:16 am

You cannot use the same data set for input and output for a MERGE.

anita_lao · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

How about changing the merge to a sort?

Frank Yaeger · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:59 am

If you change the MERGE to a SORT then you can use the same data set for SORTIN and SORTOUT. But ... (1) if anything goes wrong (e.g. I/O) error, you may lose your data set so be sure you have a backup or can recreate it. (2) MERGE is more efficient then sort. So a SORT may actually be less efficient then the MERGE and COPY. Note also that SORT requires workspace whereas MERGE and COPY don't.