RELEASE Statement

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.

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RELEASE Statement - Format

>>-RELEASE--record-name-1--+--------------------+--------------><
                           '-FROM--identifier-1-'   

Within an INPUT PROCEDURE, at least one RELEASE statement must be specified.

When the RELEASE statement is executed, the current contents of record-name-1 are placed in the sort file; that is, made available to the initial phase of the sorting operation.
record-name-1
Must specify the name of a record in a sort-merge file description entry (SD). Record-name-1 may be qualified.
IBM Extension

IBM Extension Can be a floating-point or date-time data item. End of IBM Extension

End of IBM Extension
FROM identifier-1
Makes the RELEASE statement equivalent to the statements:
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.

IBM Extension

IBM Extension Identifier-1 must be a DBCS data item if record-name-1 is a DBCS data item. End of IBM Extension

End of IBM Extension
IBM Extension

IBM Extension Identifier-1 can be a floating-point or date-time data item. End of IBM Extension

End of IBM Extension

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.