RE: Sorting

midrange-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>   7. Sorting (Metz, Zak)
>
>I need to sort some files. The sorts are dynamic and the keying will
>only be known at run-time. The files often have multi-million record
>counts and an average reclen of something like 1k.

Multi-million plus 1K lengths means multi-gig temp files when sorting. Ouch if 
space gets short.

>I will be starting with a PF and need to either sort into a 2nd PF or
>preferably back into the same PF. Those are requirements that I have no
>control over.
>
>Currently this is done with FMTDTA, but we are running into the key
>length limitation, and so looking for other solutions.

Rather than FMTDTA where you are (apparently) generating control records into a 
source member, why not just build a sort control block and call the QLGSORT 
API? The first few times are fun, but once you have a working example, it's not 
bad. I have a couple CL commands... the first is a shell that builds a sort 
control block, using all the prompting, etc., that commands allow, and the 
second is a QLGSORT wrapper that uses the pre-built control block. Makes 
dynamic sorting in CL a breeze. A couple similar ILE RPG procedures seems ideal 
for you.

And QLGSORT allows having the output file be the same as the input file.

Tom Liotta

-- 
-- 
Tom Liotta
The PowerTech Group, Inc.
19426 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
Phone  253-872-7788 x313
Fax    253-872-7904
http://www.powertechgroup.com


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