COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.03+)

Libraries and Utility Routines
HP COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs—520347-003
13-16
Establishing Parameters With FastSort Interface
Routines
Topics:
•
Establishing Parameters With FastSort Interface Routines
•
Establishing Parameters With =_SORT_DEFAULTS DEFINE
For descriptions of individual FastSort interface routines, see ZCOBDLL Routines.
Establishing Parameters With FastSort Interface Routines
One way to establish FastSort parameters is with the FastSort interface routines.
At run time, HP COBOL routines collect these parameters into a storage area called
the option block. When a SORT or MERGE verb is executed, other HP COBOL run-
time routines pass these parameters to FastSort.
If you do not establish FastSort parameters with FastSort interface routines (and
certain other conditions are true), FastSort uses the attributes of the
=_SORT_DEFAULTS DEFINE). For details, see Establishing Parameters With
=_SORT_DEFAULTS DEFINE.
For explanations of individual FastSort interface routines, see ZCOBDLL Routines.
Establishing Parameters With =_SORT_DEFAULTS DEFINE
Another way to establish FastSort parameters is with the default SORT DEFINE
=_SORT_DEFAULTS. This method is recommended when it would be difficult to
modify existing applications.
When an HP COBOL program calls FastSort, FastSort uses the attributes of
=_SORT_DEFAULTS if all of these conditions are true:
•
No user DEFINEs have been specified
•
No FastSort parameters are set
•
DEFMODE is on
Table 13-5. FastSort Interface Routines*
Routine Purpose
COBOL_RETURN_SORT_ERRORS_ Specifies the data item to which FastSort will
report error messages
COBOL_SET_SORT_PARAM_TEXT_ Establishes an alphanumeric parameter
(which must be a data item described in any
section of the Data Division)
COBOL_SET_SORT_PARAM_VALUE_ Establishes a numeric parameter, specifying
that it is a literal, an identifier, or an arithmetic
expression
* In the ZCOBDLL file.