COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.08+, J06.03+)

CONTAINS phrase
VARYING phrase
length-min, length-max, length-var
are integer values as in the file description entry.
DATA RECORDS clause
data-name
is the name of a record that is declared following the sort-merge file description entry. One
or more fields of those records are used as keys in SORT and MERGE statements.
Usage Consideration: Only the DATA RECORD and RECORD CONTAINS (or RECORD VARYING)
clauses are valid. For descriptions of these clauses, see File Description Entries.
In Example 38, the record description entry associated with the sort-merge file description entry
defines CUSTOMER-NAME, CUSTOMER-ADDRESS, and CUSTOMER-ZIP. These data items can
be used as sort-merge keys.
174 Data Division