Input to a sort or copy application can be a blocked or unblocked QSAM or VSAM data set containing fixed- or variable-length records. QSAM input data sets can be concatenated even if they are on dissimilar devices. See SORTIN DD statement for the restrictions that apply.

Output from a sort or copy application can be blocked or unblocked QSAM or VSAM data sets, regardless of whether the input is QSAM or VSAM. Unless OUTFIL is used to convert variable input to fixed output, or fixed input to variable output, an output data set must be the same type (fixed or variable) as the input data set.

Files in a z/OS file system are supported as input and output for sort and copy applications.