Syncsort MFX

Syncsort MFX is a high-performance sort/merge/copy utility. It is designed for the advanced facilities of the zSeries architecture and exploits the features of the z/OS operating system. MFX is installed as the system sort on all mainframe systems except the CWS systems.

MFX can be initiated through job control language or invoked from a program written in COBOL, PL/1, or Assembler language. A JCL-initiated sort is more efficient because MFX totally controls the sort execution, including I/O management and main storage management. Exit routines may be written in COBOL, C, FORTRAN, REXX, or Assembler language to give a JCL sort additional programming flexibility.

The basic functions of Syncsort MFX are:

  • Sorting – rearranging data set records to produce a specific sequence.
  • Merging – combining up to 100 pre-sequenced data sets into one data set which has the same sequence.
  • Copying – reproducing a data set without going through the sorting process.

Additional Data Utility features include a join facility, a multiple output facility, a range of report writing capabilities, and a facility to create a PDF, RTF or HTML output file and email it to one or more recipients. There are many record selection and record reformatting facilities as well.

MFX can directly retrieve data from a DB2 database based upon a user-provided query. An SQL SELECT statement is used to specify the criteria of the request, and the query of the DB2 database will be used in place of MFX’s SORTIN or E15 processing.

MFX PROCSort – An Accelerator for SAS® Sorting is a high performance, transparent replacement for the SAS procedure PROC SORT. MFX PROCSort reduces the resources required for sorting within SAS applications and cuts sort elapsed time.

Reference Manual
The Syncsort MFX for z/OS Programmer’s Guide is the primary reference. It can be found on the Rancho Cordova systems in data set DC.MANUALS.SYNCSORT.MFX.R21.PGMRS.GUIDE.PDF or on the Vacaville systems in data set HW.MANUALS.SYNCSORT.MFX.R21.PGMRS.GUIDE.PDF. These are ASCII files that can be downloaded using a binary transfer to use directly on your workstation.