Return to MTsort guide base window
This window is handler-specific. It allows modification of runfiles and other changeable parameters.


Tape Output device

For the Tape output handler, the menu button labelled Stream n allows the user to choose the name of the output device.
This must be set correctly before the sort is started.


Output Runfiles

The current set of output runfiles known to the sort program are shown in the list window. On selecting one, its contents are copied into the modify boxes in the lower half of the window. Any changes to the list made by using Add, Replace, ResetLine or Remove must be copied back into the program using Save.

The Add button copies the current contents of the modify boxes to the end of the list.
The Replace button copies the current contents of the modify boxes and overwrites the currently selected list member.
The ResetLine button copies the current volume and file name contents of the modify boxes, sets the start and end blocks to zero, and overwrites the currently selected list member.
The Remove button deletes the currently selected list member from the list of runfiles.

The Save button writes back the current runfile list contents into the sort program.


Output file change style

The check button labelled Output style should be set to the desired mode.
There are 3 sets of inter-dependent options.

  • The output file can change if the input file changes, or only if the output file becomes full.
  • The output filename can be taken from the output runfile list, or from the input filename.
  • The output filename can be incremented, or not. If it is incremented, then 000 is added to the filename base for the first file.

    Note for example: If the filename is taken from the output runfile list, and no-increment is chosen, then the sort may stop if the output file becomes full.

    If the input filename is not a unique name ( i.e. a wildcard) then each actual input filename is considered.

    For tape output the transferred input filename is stripped of characters not allowed in ANSI format filenames (e.g. underscores) and then truncated from the front if longer than 6 characters.


    Maintained by Janet Sampson and John Cresswell (University of Liverpool)
    Email to support@ns.ph.liv.ac.uk