Method 3: DFSORT with control statements

Method 3 takes the final step of eliminating the COBOL calling program by invoking DFSORT directly (using PGM=ICEMAN or PGM=SORT on the JCL EXEC statement). Calling DFSORT directly is only feasible if all of the functions of the COBOL program can be duplicated using DFSORT control statements, options, or user exits.

When DFSORT is invoked directly, control statements can be specified using the data set defined by SYSIN or DFSPARM. DFSPARM can be used to specify certain options (for example, MSGDDN) that are ignored in SYSIN. For this example, we use SYSIN, although DFSPARM would do just as well.

The COBOL SORT statement causes COBOL to generate a DFSORT SORT control statement. The equivalent DFSORT SORT control statement must be supplied when DFSORT is invoked directly. When the following JCL statements are added to the COBOL job, the needed equivalent DFSORT SORT control statement is displayed in DFSHOW.

//SORTDIAG DD DUMMY
//DFSHOW DD SYSOUT=*
//DFSPARM DD *
  MSGDDN=MYSHOW
/*