Utilities › RMOGRW - General Report Writer › SORT Control Statement › Syntax

Syntax

SORT field[-seq][,field[-seq]], …]

where:

field

Specifies the name of the field to be sorted.

This field can be a database field, a defined field, or a reserved field.

-seq

Specifies the sequence for sorting the field.

The sequence A is used for sorting in ascending sequence; the sequence D is used for sorting in descending sequence. If omitted, the field is sorted in ascending sequence.

The SORT control statement cannot be embedded within IF or DO control statements. Statements supplied before the SORT control statement are considered statements that are executed before the sort record is released to the sort, and statements following the SORT control statement are statements that are executed after the sort record is returned from the sort.

Sorting is not necessary for a majority of report requests. The database currently maintains crucial information in sequential order. The sequence of data retrieved from the database without sorting is determined by the following conditions:

• If database fields from the job descriptor record are referenced, database records are retrieved in job name (JOB) sequence.
• If database fields from the report descriptor record are referenced other than report identifier (RID), database records are retrieved in report identifier (RID) sequence.
• If database fields from the bundle descriptor record or bundle active status record are referenced without referencing database fields from the job descriptor record, report descriptor record, or report active status record other than report identifier (RID), database records are retrieved in bundle identifier (BID) sequence.
• If database fields are referenced from the distribution data record only, database records are retrieved in distribution identifier (DID) sequence.

Because the database fields that are referenced do not necessarily imply the true intent of your request, the sequence in which database records are accessed can be overridden by the CONTROL control statement. See the CONTROL control statement for further information.