Mainframe sort merge
Encyclopedia
The Sort/Merge utility
is a mainframe program to sort records in a file into a specified order, merge pre-sorted files into a sorted file, or copy selected records. Internally, these utilities use one or more of the standard sorting algorithm
s, often with proprietary fine-tuned code.
It is very frequently used; often the most commonly used application program in a mainframe shop.
Modern sort/merge programs also can copy files, selecting or omitting certain records, summarize records, remove duplicates, reformat records, and produce reports.
Sort/merge is important enough that there are multiple companies each selling their own sort/merge package for IBM MVS mainframes. The major ones are:
(Some of these also sell versions for other platforms, such as Unix
, Linux
, or Windows
.)
There is also a discussion of mainframe sorting in the BatchPipes
article.
IBM mainframe utility programs
IBM mainframe utility programs are supplied with IBM mainframe operating systems such as MVS to carry out various tasks associated with datasets, etc.-History/Common JCL:...
is a mainframe program to sort records in a file into a specified order, merge pre-sorted files into a sorted file, or copy selected records. Internally, these utilities use one or more of the standard sorting algorithm
Sorting algorithm
In computer science, a sorting algorithm is an algorithm that puts elements of a list in a certain order. The most-used orders are numerical order and lexicographical order...
s, often with proprietary fine-tuned code.
It is very frequently used; often the most commonly used application program in a mainframe shop.
Modern sort/merge programs also can copy files, selecting or omitting certain records, summarize records, remove duplicates, reformat records, and produce reports.
Sort/merge is important enough that there are multiple companies each selling their own sort/merge package for IBM MVS mainframes. The major ones are:
- DFSORT sold by IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. - SyncSort sold by SyncsortSyncsortSyncsort Incorporated is a software company specializing in high speed sorting products, as well as data integration and backup software and services, for Windows, Unix, Linux, and mainframe systems. According to its website, Syncsort products are used by over 90 of the Fortune 100 companies and...
, Inc. - CA-SORT sold by Computer Associates, Inc.
(Some of these also sell versions for other platforms, such as Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, or Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.)
There is also a discussion of mainframe sorting in the BatchPipes
BatchPipes
In IBM mainframes, BatchPipes is a batch job processing utility designed for the MVS/ESA operating system, and all later incarnations—OS/390 and z/OS.-Core function:...
article.