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

36 Chapter3

Using SORT/XL Interactively

Using >VERIFY to Check Options

The >VERIFY command allows you to check the options you speciﬁed for the sort operation.

Enter the >VERIFY command after the >KEY command, as follows:

:SORT

HP32214A.01.00 SORT/3000 WED, JUN 3, 1987, 8:32 AM

>INPUT EMPLOYEE

>OUTPUT COMPANY

>KEY 1, 11; 12, 11; 23, 19

>VERIFY

SORT/XL responds to the >VERIFY command with the following display:

INPUT ENTITY = EMPLOYEE

RECORD LENGTH = SAME AS THAT OF THE INPUT FILE

OUTPUT ENTITY = COMPANY

KEY POSITION LENGTH TYPE ASC/DESC

1 11 BYTE ASC (MAJOR KEY)

12 11 BYTE ASC

23 19 BYTE ASC

This display tells you that the input ﬁle is EMPLOYEE; the output ﬁle is COMPANY; and the

sort is based on three designated keys. The ﬁrst key (identiﬁed as the major key) starts in

character position 1 and is 11 characters long. In case of ties on the ﬁrst key, entries in

COMPANY are sorted according to the second key. The second key starts in character position

12 and is 11 characters long. The third key starts in character position 23 and is 19

characters long. It also shows that the default values for TYPE (BYTE) and ASC/DESC (ASC

for ascending) are used. Refer to the >VERIFY command in Chapter 6 for additional

information.