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misi01 · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2021 10:10 am Post subject: Sort input file to same file

Got this question from a colleague and couldn't answer it.
Are there any pros and cons of sorting a file and using the same file for both input and output ? (Just curious)
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Michael

kolusu · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2021 11:38 am Post subject:

misi01,

Technically you CAN sort the same file using as both input and output. You just canNOT use a COPY operation to the same file.
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Kolusu - DFSORT Development Team (IBM)
DFSORT is on the Web at:
www.ibm.com/storage/dfsort

www.linkedin.com/in/kolusu

misi01 · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2021 7:15 am Post subject:

Thanks, but are there any special pros/cons to using the same file for both input and output for a sort?
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Michael

kolusu · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2021 10:31 am Post subject:

misi01,

There are no special pros to use the same file for both input and output. You may save some DASD as you don't write to another dataset. Nowadays DASD isn't that expensive.

As for cons, if for any reason the job abends then you may loose data. If you have a backup copy of the dataset then you are good, but without a backup you may run into an issue when the job abends.
_________________
Kolusu - DFSORT Development Team (IBM)
DFSORT is on the Web at:
www.ibm.com/storage/dfsort

www.linkedin.com/in/kolusu