By specifying the COBOL FASTSRT compiler option, you can significantly reduce DFSORT processor time, EXCPs, and elapsed time. With FASTSRT, DFSORT input/output operations are more efficient because DFSORT rather than COBOL does the input/output (see Figure 1). For more details, see the COBOL publications.

The FASTSRT option does not take effect for input and output if input and output procedures are used in the SORT statement. Many of the functions usually performed in an input or output procedure are the same as those done by DFSORT INREC, OUTFIL, OUTREC, INCLUDE or OMIT, STOPAFT, SKIPREC, and SUM functions. You might be able to eliminate your input and output procedures by coding the appropriate DFSORT program control statements and placing them in either the DFSPARM (DFSORT), SORTCNTL (DFSORT), or IGZSRTCD (COBOL) data set, thereby allowing your SORT statement to qualify for FASTSRT.

Figure 1. Faster Sorting with COBOL