ICETOOL is a batch front-end utility that uses the capabilities of DFSORT to perform the operations you request.

ICETOOL includes 17 operators that perform sort, merge, copy, statistical, report, selection, and splice operations. Most of the operations performed by ICETOOL require only simple JCL and operator statements. Some ICETOOL operations require or allow you to specify complete DFSORT control statements (such as SORT, MERGE, INCLUDE or OMIT, INREC, and OUTFIL) to take full advantage of DFSORT's capabilities.

ICETOOL automatically calls DFSORT with the particular DFSORT control statements and options required for each operation (such as DYNALLOC for sorting).

ICETOOL also produces messages and return codes describing the results of each operation and any errors detected. Although you generally do not need to look at the DFSORT messages produced as a result of an ICETOOL run, they are available in a separate data set if you need them.

ICETOOL can be called directly or from a program. ICETOOL allows operator statements (and comments) to be supplied in a data set or in a parameter list passed by a calling program. For each operator supplied in the parameter list, ICETOOL puts information in the parameter list pertaining to that operation, thus allowing the calling program to use the information derived by ICETOOL.