User exit considerations

SORT or MERGE COBOL verbs can trigger COBOL-generated user exits (E15 for sort, E35 for merge). These exits include any input or output procedures. However, the exits are not triggered when a COBOL USING or GIVING statement is in effect and the files qualify for FASTSRT.

Language Environment treats the COBOL-generated exits differently than those requested by a direct invocation of DFSORT. Language Environment treats user exits triggered by COBOL SORT or MERGE as part of the enclave of the routine that invoked DFSORT; the SVC LINK used to invoke DFSORT is not considered by Language Environment to initiate a new implicit nested enclave. This is not the case for direct invocations of DFSORT, which do result in the creation of a new nested enclave. See Using nested enclaves for more information on nested enclaves, and see z/OS DFSORT Application Programming Guide for more information on direct invocations of DFSORT.