E61 user exit: modifying control fields

You can use a routine at this user exit to lengthen, shorten, or alter any control field within a record. The E option for the s parameter on the SORT or MERGE control statement must be specified for control fields changed by this routine as described in MERGE control statement and SORT control statement. After your routine modifies the control field, DFSORT collates the records in ascending order using the format(s) specified.¹

Note:

Routine E61 will not be used with EFS fields that have a D1 format.
Although your E61 routine alters control fields before a compare, your original records are not altered.
If locale processing is used for SORT or MERGE fields, an E61 user exit must not be used. DFSORT's locale processing may eliminate the need for an E61 user exit. See OPTION control statement for information related to locale processing.

¹ With a conventional merge or a tape work data set sort, control fields for which E is specified are treated as binary byte format regardless of the actual format(s) specified.