DFSORT (Data Facility Sort) is IBM's high-performance sort/merge/copy utility for z/OS. It is used in JCL to sort, merge, copy, and transform large datasets. It supports many data types, control statements (INCLUDE, OMIT, INREC, OUTREC, OUTFIL, SUM, JOINKEYS), and is the basis for ICETOOL.

Where should I start in the DFSORT tutorials?

Start with "What is DFSORT?" and "Running DFSORT in JCL" in the fundamentals section. Then move to "Control Statements" and "SORT FIELDS" before diving into INREC, OUTREC, and OUTFIL.

How many DFSORT topics are covered?

The DFSORT tutorial index covers 200+ topics across 24 sections: fundamentals, environment setup, every control statement, SORT/MERGE deep dives, data types, report generation, performance, advanced tricks, diagnostics, and real-world use cases.

Can I use DFSORT for joining files?

Yes. DFSORT supports JOINKEYS for inner, left, right, and full outer joins. See the JOINKEYS section and the individual join topics for syntax and examples.

What is the difference between INREC and OUTREC?

INREC reformats records before the sort (so you can reduce data being sorted). OUTREC reformats records after the sort. Use INREC when you can drop fields before sorting; use OUTREC when you need the full record for the sort but want different output layout.

DFSORT Tutorial Index - Complete Guide to All DFSORT Topics

Complete DFSORT Tutorial Index

Browse the full DFSORT topic map. Pages are added over time; use the sidebar to jump to a section. Each tutorial includes syntax, examples, and practical guidance.

1. DFSORT Fundamentals – Introduction & Concepts

2. DFSORT Fundamentals – Environment Setup

3. Control Statements (Core Syntax)

4. SORT Statement Deep Dive

5. INCLUDE / OMIT Advanced Filtering

6. INREC Processing

7. OUTREC Processing

8. OUTFIL Advanced Output Control

9. SUM Statement

10. JOINKEYS (Advanced Data Joining)

11. MERGE Processing

12. OPTION Statement Deep Dive

13. Data Types & Formats

14. Conditional Processing

15. Sequence Numbers

16. Report Generation

17. Date & Time Processing

18. Data Transformation

19. Performance Optimization

20. Advanced Tricks Used by Experts

21. Diagnostics & Debugging

22. Real World Use Cases

23. Compatibility & Migration

24. Other DFSORT Topics

How to Use This Index

Start with Section 1 (Fundamentals) and Section 2 (Environment Setup) if you are new to DFSORT. Use the left sidebar to open sections and navigate. Each topic page will include examples, control statement syntax, and links to related pages.

Use the sidebar to jump to any section
Related JCL content: see the JCL SORT/DFSORT utility tutorial

DFSORT Tutorial Index