You can sort or merge records on a collating sequence that you specify for single-byte character keys. The default collating sequence is the collating sequence specified by the locale setting in effect at compile time unless you code the PROGRAM COLLATING SEQUENCE clause in the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph.
To override the default sequence, use the COLLATING SEQUENCE phrase of the SORT or MERGE statement. You can use different collating sequences for each SORT or MERGE statement in your program.
The PROGRAM COLLATING SEQUENCE clause and the COLLATING SEQUENCE phrase apply only to keys of class alphabetic or alphanumeric. The COLLATING SEQUENCE phrase is valid only when a single-byte ASCII code page is in effect.
related tasks
Specifying the collating sequence
Controlling the collating sequence with a locale
Setting sort or merge criteria
related references
OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)
SORT statement
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)
Classes and categories of data
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)