file-name-2,...

The input files.

When the USING phrase is specified, all the records in file-name-2,..., (that is, the input files) are transferred automatically to file-name-1. At the time the SORT statement is executed, these files must not be open; the compiler opens, reads, makes records available, and closes these files automatically. If EXCEPTION/ERROR procedures are specified for these files, the compiler makes the necessary linkage to these procedures.

All input files must be described in FD entries in the Data Division.

If the USING phrase is specified and if file-name-1 contains variable-length records, the size of the records contained in the input files (file-name-2,...) must not be less than the smallest record nor greater than the largest record described for file-name-1. If file-name-1 contains fixed-length records, the size of the records contained in the input files must not be greater than the largest record described for file-name-1. For more information, see the IBM COBOL Programming Guide for your platform.

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