Basic Functions of MFX - mfx - 3.1

Syncsort™ MFX Programmers Guide
Product type
Software
Portfolio
Integrate
Product family
Syncsort™ Software
Product
Syncsort™ MFX > MFX
Version
3.1
Language
English
ContentType
Programmer’s Guide
Product name
Syncsort™ MFX
Title
Syncsort™ MFX Programmers Guide
Topic type
How Do I
Copyright
2024
First publish date
2010
ft:lastEdition
2024-08-27
ft:lastPublication
2024-08-27T08:14:56.318001
MFX has three basic functions:

  • Sorting – rearranging data set records to produce a specific sequence.

  • Merging –combining up to 100 pre-sequenced data sets into one data set which has the same sequence.

  • Copying –reproducing a data set without going through the sorting process.

Sorting

A sort rearranges the records in a data set to produce a specific sequence, e.g., chronological or alphabetic order. MFX provides the following sorting techniques:

  • Disk Sort, the standard sorting technique. Information in the Programmer’s Guide refers to the Disk Sort unless otherwise indicated.

  • MAXSORT, a maximum capacity sorting technique with an enhanced breakpoint/restart capability. MAXSORT can sort any collection of data - regardless of size - using a limited amount of disk space. MAXSORT is described in the MAXSORT section of this guide.

  • PARASORT, a sorting technique that significantly reduces elapsed time for sorts whose input is a multi-volume tape data set and/or concatenated tape data sets. PARASORT improves performance by using multiple tape drives in parallel. PARASORT is described in the PARASORT chapter of this guide.

A sort logically consists of four phases that perform the following functions:

  • The control statements and JCL information are read and analyzed and the operational parameters for the sort are established.

  • The input data is read into main storage and sorted.

  • If necessary, intermediate results are written to temporary storage devices.

  • The sorting process completes and the sorted data is written to the specified output device(s).

Merging

A merge combines up to 100 pre-sequenced data sets into one data set which has the same sequence. A merge has two phases that perform these functions:

  • The control statements and JCL information are read and analyzed and the operational parameters for the merge are established.

  • The files are merged and the merged data is written to the specified output device(s).

Copying  

A copy reproduces a file, completely bypassing the sorting process. A copy has two phases that perform these functions:

  • The control statements and JCL information are read and analyzed and the operational parameters for the copy are established.

  • The copied file is written to the specified output device(s).