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

alphabet-name
must be associated with a collating sequence in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph of the
Environment Division (see SPECIAL-NAMES Paragraph).
USING phrase
merge-in-1, merge-in-2, merge-in-n
are file description (FD) names. Multiple-reel tape files are permitted. The files can have
variable-length or fixed-length records.
If merge-file has variable-length records, then the records of merge-in-1,
merge-in-2, and merge-in-n must not be shorter than the shortest record that
merge-file can have or longer than the longest record that merge-file can have.
If merge-file has fixed-length records, then the records of merge-in-1, merge-in-2,
and merge-in-n must not be greater than that fixed length. If a record of merge-in-1,
merge-in-2, or merge-in-n is shorter than the fixed length of each merge-file
record, then the shorter record is space-padded on the right when it is released to
merge-file.
output-specifier
specifies the procedure to which the merge operation is to deliver the records of the merged
files, in order.
outproc-1
is the paragraph-name or section-name of the first (and maybe only) paragraph or section
of the procedure to which the merge operation delivers the records of the merged files.
outproc-2
is the paragraph-name or section-name of the last paragraph or section of the procedure
in the group of procedures to which the merge operation delivers the records of the merged
files.
merge-out
is a file description (FD) name, the name of a file that results from the merge operation.
The merge-out file can have variable-length or fixed-length records. If merge-out has
fixed-length records, any record in merge-file that is shorter than that fixed length is
space-padded on the right when that record is returned to merge-out.
MERGE 363