Re: Sorting file based on variable string

Thanks Dennis.

I was afraid that when I simplified my requirement, I would miss something
in the translation.

Actually, the key I want to sort with need not be the second field
separated by x'1C'. It is not the first, it is not the last, but could be
anywhere in between. The only uniqueness is that it starts with x'1C'A2 and
ends with another x'1C', which is the beginning of the next field. (A2 is
the field tag that identifies the field I need).

So, based on your explanation of what the Unix sort does, your solution
might need some tweaking, but I have no idea what it would be.

On Sat, Jan 21, 2012 at 4:04 PM, Dennis Lovelady <iseries@xxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

Hi, Vinay:

I would use the unix sort command for this.

Use CPYTOSTMF to put the file on the IFS. Then use QSH "sort" command.
Then use CPYFRMSTMF to put it back

For example:
CPYTOSTMF FROMMBR('/qsys.lib/mylib.lib/myfile.file/sortme.mbr')

TOSTMF('/tmp/sortme.in')

qsh cmd('sort -t x''1c'' -k2 < /tmp/sortme.in > /tmp/sorted.out')

CPYFRMSTMF FROMSTMF('/tmp/sorted.out')
TOMBR('/qsys.lib/mylib.lib/myfile.file/sorted.mbr')



Above will
take member SORTME of file MYLIB/MIFILE, put it onto the /tmp
directory, named sortme.in
sort /tmp/sortme.in by the second "key", where the keys are
separated by x'16'
producing /tmp/sorted.out
copy sorted.out inot member SORTED of MYLIB/MYFILE


Dennis Lovelady
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dennislovelady
--
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I have a flat file, which has fields delimited by field separators and a

2

character field tag. The actual fields are variable length, so not in a

fixed

position.

For example, my field separator is hex '1C' and the field tags are A1

thru
A6.

Tag A1 denotes First name, A2 Last name, A3 Address Line 1, A4 Address

Line 2

etc.

I want to sort by last name, which will be a variable length field, and

could

occur anywhere in the record (as the First name is also of variable

length).

It will always be enclosed between hex '1C'A2 and hex '1C' (it will never

be

the first or the last field in the record).

What would be the best way of doing this? (The only solution I have is to
write a program to create an intermediate file, with the Last Name as a
separate field).

The file is actually 4000 bytes and has about 18 million records, but

this

would be a one time effort.

TIA
Vinay
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