Generates a sorted and formatted listing of items and attributes from a specified file based on the selection criteria entered.
SORT
file-specifier
Refer to Sentence Structure for descriptions of these parameters.
The SORT processor sequences values by comparing the ASCII characters from left to right. If the field is left-aligned, the data is sequenced in ASCII collated order. For example:
01 123 21 A ABC BA
If the field is right-aligned and the data is numeric, a true numeric compare is performed.
If the right-aligned field is alphanumeric, data is collated in an alphanumeric sequence. For example:
A 01 123 ABCD
Unless a different sort order is specified, the listing is arranged in an ascending order based on the item-id.
If a descending listing of item-ids is required, the BY-DSND modifier must be used. The modifier must be immediately followed by an item-id that has been set up to describe attribute 0 (item-id). For example, to sort either the GUESTS or the ROOMS file in descending order by item-id, specify: "BY-DSND ROOM."
The SORT processor retrieves multivalued attributes as they are found. To sort data in multivalued attributes, use the BY-EXP or BY-EXP-DSND modifier.
The first example shows the use of selection criteria, an output specification, a format specification, and an output option.
:SORT ROOMS WITHOUT GUEST ROOM-CODE BED-TYPE RATE HDR-SUPP (P
ROOMS Room Bed............ Rate....
Code Type
179 S King 72.00
186 S King 72.00
321 DL King 82.00
329 DL Waterbed 104.00
600 ST Waterbed 104.00
The same selection criterion is used with the next two examples (BILL-TOTAL > "245.00"), but in the second of them an EXPloding modifier is used to sort multivalued attribute information. Note the asterisk (*) indicating a dependent attribute.
:SORT GUESTS WITH BILL-TOTAL > "245.00" BY-DSND BILL-TOTAL NAME BILL-TOTAL HDR-SUPP
GUESTS Guest Name.......... Bill Total
535 Linda P. Evans $281.42
411 Alyson Gallagher $249.76
:SORT GUESTS WITH BILL-TOTAL > "245.00" BY-DSND BILL-TOTAL BY-EXP BILL-CODE BILL-CODE
BILL-AMOUNT BILL-TOTAL BILL-DESC HDR-SUPP
GUESTS Bill Amount.. Bill Total Description
Code
*
535 2 $98.00 $281.42 Room
535 2 $98.00 $281.42 Room
535 5 $6.65 $281.42 Lunch
535 13 $45.00 $281.42 Bar (2)
535 15 $33.77 $281.42 Telephone
411 2 $93.00 $249.76 Room
411 2 $93.00 $249.76 Room
411 4 $18.76 $249.76 Breakfast
411 10 $45.00 $249.76 Rest. (Bar)
A report can be organized to show totals and eliminate the repetition of Bill Totals by using the BREAK-ON and TOTAL connectives.
:SORT GUESTS WITH BILL-TOTAL > "245.00" BY BILL-CODE BILL-CODE BILL-AMOUNT BILL-DESC
BREAK-ON ROOM TOTAL BILL-TOTAL GRAND-TOTAL "Total:" HDR-SUPP
GUESTS Bill Amount.. Description..Room.. Bill Total
Code
*
411 2 $93.00 Room 411 $249.76
10 $45.00 Rest. (Bar)
2 $93.00 Room
4 $18.76 Breakfast
*** $249.76
535 2 $98.00 Room 535 $281.42
13 $45.00 Bar (2)
15 $33.77 Telephone
2 $98.00 Room
5 $6.65 Lunch
*** $281.42
Total: $531.18