Using >VERIFY to Check Options

The >VERIFY command allows you to check the options you specified for the sort operation. Enter the >VERIFY command after the >KEY command, as follows:

     :SORT   
 
     HP32214A.01.00  SORT/3000 WED, JUN  3, 1987,  8:32 AM 
     © HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. 1986 
 
     >INPUT EMPLOYEE 
     >OUTPUT COMPANY 
     >KEY 1, 11; 12, 11; 23, 19   
     >VERIFY  

SORT/XL responds to the >VERIFY command with the following display:

        INPUT ENTITY = EMPLOYEE 
        RECORD LENGTH  = SAME AS THAT OF THE INPUT FILE 
        OUTPUT ENTITY = COMPANY 
        KEY POSITION    LENGTH  TYPE  ASC/DESC 
                1        11     BYTE     ASC  (MAJOR KEY) 
               12        11     BYTE     ASC 
               23        19     BYTE     ASC 

This display tells you that the input file is EMPLOYEE; the output file is COMPANY; and the sort is based on three designated keys. The first key (identified as the major key) starts in character position 1 and is 11 characters long. In case of ties on the first key, entries in COMPANY are sorted according to the second key. The second key starts in character position 12 and is 11 characters long. The third key starts in character position 23 and is 19 characters long. It also shows that the default values for TYPE (BYTE) and ASC/DESC (ASC for ascending) are used. Refer to the >VERIFY command in Chapter 6 for additional information.