The RELEASE statement transfers records from an input/output area to the initial phase of a sorting operation.
The RELEASE statement can only be used within the range of an input procedure associated with a SORT statement.
RELEASE Statement - Format >>-RELEASE--record-name-1--+--------------------+-------------->< '-FROM--identifier-1-'
Within an INPUT PROCEDURE, at least one RELEASE statement must be specified.
Can be a floating-point or date-time data item.
MOVE identifier-1 to record-name-1
RELEASE record-name-1
Moving takes place according to the rules for the MOVE statement without the CORRESPONDING phrase.
Identifier-1 can be the name of an alphanumeric or DBCS function identifier.
Identifier-1 must be a DBCS data item if record-name-1 is a DBCS data item.
Identifier-1 can be a floating-point or date-time data item.
Record-name-1 and identifier-1 must not refer to the same storage area.
If the RELEASE statement is executed without specifying the SD entry for file-name-1 in a SAME RECORD AREA clause, the information in record-name-1 is no longer available.
If the SD entry is specified in a SAME RECORD AREA clause, record-name-1 is still available as a record of the other files named in that clause.
When FROM identifier-1 is specified, the information is still available in identifier-1.
When control passes from the INPUT PROCEDURE, the sort file consists of all those records placed in it by execution of RELEASE statements.