The matching record indicator (MR) is associated with the matching field entries M1 through M9. It can only be used in a program when Match Fields are defined in the primary and at least one secondary file.
The MR indicator is set on when all the matching fields in a record of a secondary file match all the matching fields of a record in the primary file. It remains on during the complete processing of primary and secondary records. It is set off when all total calculations, total output, and overflow for the records have been processed.
At detail time, MR always indicates the matching status of the record just selected for processing; at total time, it reflects the matching status of the previous record. If all primary file records match all secondary file records, the MR indicator is always on.
Use the MR indicator as a field record relation indicator, or as a conditioning indicator in the calculation specifications or output specifications to indicate operations that are to be processed only when records match. The MR indicator cannot be specified as a resulting indicator.
For more information on Match Fields and multi-file processing, see General File Considerations.