The RELEASE statement transfers records from an input/output area to the initial phase of a sorting operation.
The RELEASE statement can be used only within the range of an INPUT PROCEDURE associated with a SORT statement.
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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. This makes the record available to the initial phase of the sorting operation.
MOVE identifier-1 to record-name-1. RELEASE record-name-1.
The MOVE is performed according to the rules for the MOVE statement without the CORRESPONDING phrase.
identifier-1 must be a valid sending item with record-name-1 as the receiving item in accordance with the rules of the MOVE statement.
identifier-1 and record-name-1 must not refer to the same storage area.
After the RELEASE statement is executed, the information is still available in identifier-1. (See INTO and FROM phrases under “Common processing facilities”.)
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.