Arguments

 

spec_file

   OpenVMS usage:char_string
   type:         character-coded text string
   access:       read-only
   mechanism:    by descriptor
   Specification file name. The spec_file argument is the address
   of a descriptor pointing to the name of a file that contains
   the text of the options requested for the sort or merge. The
   specification file name string and the specification file buffer
   arguments are mutually exclusive.
 

spec_buffer

   OpenVMS usage:char_string
   type:         character-coded text string
   access:       read-only
   mechanism:    by descriptor
   Specification text buffer. The spec_buffer argument is the
   address of a descriptor pointing to a buffer containing
   specification text. This text has the same format as the text
   within the specification file. The specification file name
   string and the specification file buffer arguments are mutually
   exclusive.
 

context

   OpenVMS usage:context
   type:         longword (unsigned)
   access:       modify
   mechanism:    by reference
   Value that distinguishes between multiple, concurrent SORT/MERGE
   operations. The context argument is the address of a longword
   containing the context value. When your program makes its first
   call to a SORT/MERGE routine for a particular sort or merge
   operation, the context longword must equal zero. SORT/MERGE
   then stores a value in the longword to identify the operation
   just initiated. When you make subsequent routine calls for the
   same operation, you must pass the context value supplied by
   SORT/MERGE.