Mainframe, MVS and zOS Discussion

Hi,

What is the difference between PGM=SORT, PGM=ICEMAN and PGM=SYNCSORT. Are they all IBM products. Which one should be used in JCLs?

Syncsort is a sort product produced by an IBM competitor (named Syncsort). CA-Sort is a sort product produced by an IBM competitor (named CA). DFSORT is the IBM sort product. EXEC PGM=SORT or EXEC PGM=ICEMAN are typically executing IBM's sort product, although some sites use aliases for Syncsort so EXEC PGM=SORT actually invokes Syncsort.

Actually, you probably should use NONE of these. Most sites allows you to enter EXEC SORT (or EXEC PROC=SORT) to invoke the site sort product via a PROCEDURE (or PROC) that includes most of the DD statements needed for a sort. While some sites have more than one sort product, they are not cheap and hence most sites only use one sort product so it is fairly rare to have a choice of which to use.

Thanks Robert.