Introduction

Introduction

ICETOOL is a multipurpose file processing and reporting utility that allows performing operations on multiple(one or more) files in a single job step. It combines new features with DFSORT features to perform complex sorting, copying, merging, reporting, and analytical tasks on multiple files.

It was first introduced along with DFSORT Release 11.1 and enhanced in every subsequent DFSORT release. It uses the capabilities of DFSORT to perform the requested operations and calls DFSORT for each operation with the control statements.


The ICETOOL allows performing a variety of functions such as -

  • Sorting the records in the file and write them to the output file.
  • Merging two or more file records and write them to the output file.
  • Sorting records between headers and trailers.
  • Allows operations to be performed or stopped based on the success or failure of previous processes.
  • Creates multiple copies of sorted, merged, edited, or unedited files.
  • Creates a larger record from multiple shorter records.
  • Creates multiple shorter records from a larger record.
  • Creates output files with subset of records from the input files.
  • Display the values for records with duplicates, non-duplicates, or values that occur n times, less than n times, or more than n times.
  • Creates files showing unique values for fields and the number of times each occurs in various report formats.
  • Creates output files with information joined together from two or more input records.
  • Displays the DFSORT installation defaults at your site.
  • Displays variety of report formats, control of title, date, time, page numbers, carriage control characters, headings, lines per page, field formats, and total, maximum, minimum, average, and count values for the numeric data.
  • Creates an output file containing an output record with text and the records count.
  • Displays statistical information for numeric fields, such as minimum, maximum, average, total, count of values within a range, and count of unique values.
  • Identifies and displays invalid decimal values and their locations in a file.
  • Setting RC=12, RC=8, RC=4, or RC=0 based on the count of records in a file.