Restrictions on input and output procedures
The
restrictions listed below apply to each input or output procedure called by SORT
and to each output procedure called by MERGE.
- The procedure must not contain any SORT or MERGE
statements.
- You can use ALTER, GO TO, and PERFORM
statements in the procedure to refer to procedure-names outside the input or
output procedure. However, control must return to the input or output
procedure after a GO TO or PERFORM statement.
- The remainder of the PROCEDURE DIVISION must not contain any
transfers of control to points inside the input or output procedure (with
the exception of the return of control from a declarative section).
- In an input or output procedure, you can call a program.
However, the called program cannot issue a SORT or MERGE
statement, and the called program must return to the caller.
- During a SORT or
MERGE operation, the SD data item is used. You must not
use it in the output procedure before the first RETURN executes. If
you move data into this record area before the first RETURN
statement, the first record to be returned will be overwritten.
related tasks
Coding the input procedure
Coding the output procedure
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