The Sort program

The compiler provides an interface called PLISRTx (x = A, B, C, or D) that allows you to make use of the IBM-supplied Sort programs.

When used from PL/I, the Sort program sorts records of all normal lengths on a large number of sorting fields. Data of most types can be sorted into ascending or descending order. The source of the data to be sorted can be either a data set or a user-written PL/I procedure that the Sort program will call each time a record is required for the sort. Similarly, the destination of the sort can be a data set or a PL/I procedure that handles the sorted records.

Inter-Language Communication with C

Inter-Language Communication (ILC) between PL/I and C allows you to use many of the data types common to both languages and should enable you to write PL/I code that either calls or is called by C.

The Checkpoint/Restart facility

The PL/I Checkpoint/Restart feature provides a convenient method of taking checkpoints during the execution of a long-running program in a batch environment.

PL/I Checkpoint/Restart uses the Advanced Checkpoint/Restart Facility of the operating system.

User exits

PL/I provides a number of user exits that allow you to customize the PL/I product to suit your needs. The PL/I products supply default exits and the associated source files.

With PL/I, you can write your own user exit or use the exit provided with the product, either "as is" or modified, depending on what you want to do with it.