PDP-11 SORT/MERGE

This document is the User's Guide for the PDP-11 SORT/MERGE Utility (Version 3.1), dated August 1990. It provides instructions for using the utility to reorder and combine files on RSTS/E, RSX-11M, RSX-11M-PLUS, and Micro/RSX operating systems.

Key sections of the guide include:

• Getting Started: Covers the basics of using the SORT and MERGE commands via DCL and MCR, identifying key fields, and running batch jobs.
• Defining SORT and MERGE Operations: Details the qualifiers and switches used to control operations, including sorting orders, collating sequences, file attributes, and performance optimization.
• Using a Specification File: Describes how to use specification files to gain finer control over sort/merge operations, such as reformatting records, defining conditional fields, and specifying record inclusion or omission.
• Using SORT and MERGE in a Program: Explains how to access SORT/MERGE functionality directly from application programs using callable subroutines in languages like BASIC-PLUS-2, COBOL-81, and FORTRAN.
• Customizing SORT: Provides technical background on the internal operations of the utility to help users fine-tune performance.
• Error Messages: Lists and explains error codes and messages returned by the utility.
• Appendixes: Includes sample programs and tables defining the DIGITAL Multinational and ASCII collating sequences.