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

Chapter 6 75
SORT-MERGE/XL Commands
DATA
DATA
The >DATA command specifies the type of the input data (either ASCII or EBCDIC) and the
basic collating sequence to be used in the particular SORT/XL (or MERGE/XL) operation.
The collating sequence may be altered, if desired, by using the >ALTSEQ command.
SYNTAX
>DATA [IS] {A[SCII] } [ , ] SEQ[UENCE] [IS] {A[SCII }
{E[BCDIC]} {E[BCDIC]}
DISCUSSION
The >DATA command must precede the first >ALTSEQ command found in any SORT/XL or
MERGE/XL operation since it is the command that initiates the translation table. If the
system encounters an >ALTSEQ command before a >DATA command, the message, THE DATA
COMMAND MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE THE ALTSEQ OR SHOW COMMANDS, is displayed. If the
>DATA command is entered again, following an >ALTSEQ command, the translation table
(and the collating sequence) are reset to their original status.
When you specify a particular sequence, it is for collating purposes only. A user-defined
sequence can be designated only if the input data is ASCII. The input data is unchanged
and appears in the output in its original form. In the example below, the >DATA command
nullifies the effect of the >ALTSEQ command issued previously during a SORT/XL
operation.
EXAMPLES
The following example shows what occurs if you do not enter the >DATA command before
an >ALTSEQ command. It also shows how the >DATA command nullifies the effect of the
>ALTSEQ command issued previously during a SORT/XL operation.
:SORT
HP32214A.01.00 SORT/3000 THU, JUN 4, 1987, 9:25 AM
© HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. 1986
>ALTSEQ MERGE "A-T" WITH "V-Y"
THE DATA COMMAND MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE THE ALTSEQ OR SHOW COMMANDS
>DATA IS ASCII, SEQUENCE IS ASCII
>ALTSEQ MERGE "A-T" WITH "V-Y"
>SHOW SEQUENCE
nul soh stx etx eot enq ack bel bs ht lf vt ff cr so si
dle dc1 dc2 dc3 dc4 nak syn etb can em sub esc fs gs rs us
sp ! " # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . /
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 : ; < = > ?
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