SORT-MERGE/XL General User's Guide (32650-90883)

1 Introduction To SORT-MERGE/XL

SORT-MERGE/XL is a subsystem of the MPE XL operating system for the 900 Series HP

3000. The SORT/XL portion of the subsystem allows you to sort ﬁles, based on one or more

data items, into a speciﬁed alphabetical, numerical, or alphanumerical order. The

MERGE/XL portion of the subsystem allows you to combine data from two or more sorted

ﬁles into a single, new, merged ﬁle.

SORT-MERGE/XL operates as a standalone utility (either interactively or in batch mode),

or within a program (programmatically). This manual provides information on how to use

SORT-MERGE/XL as a standalone utility. It also serves as a reference manual for

SORT-MERGE/XL commands. For information on how to use SORT-MERGE/XL

programmatically, refer to the SORT-MERGE/XL Programmer's Guide.

What Can You Sort?

You can use SORT-MERGE/XL to manipulate data for various business applications. Some

types of data you might choose to sort or merge could include:

• Employee or customer names.

• Dates, telephone numbers, or zip codes.

• Inventory or payroll numbers.

• Part numbers or model numbers.

• Check numbers or amounts.

• Existing data to be merged with new data.