Describe the sort file to be used for sorting or merging. You need SELECT clauses and SD entries even if you are sorting or merging data items only from WORKING-STORAGE or LOCAL-STORAGE.
Code as follows:
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.
SELECT Sort-Work-1 ASSIGN TO SortFile.
Sort-Work-1 is the name of the file in your program. Use this name to refer to the file.
DATA DIVISION.
FILE SECTION.
SD Sort-Work-1
RECORD CONTAINS 100 CHARACTERS.
01 SORT-WORK-1-AREA.
05 SORT-KEY-1 PIC X(10).
05 SORT-KEY-2 PIC X(10).
05 FILLER PIC X(80).The file described in an SD entry is the working file used for a sort or merge operation. You cannot perform any input or output operations on this file.
related references
FILE SECTION entries