The SORTOUT and OUTFIL DD statements describe the characteristics of the data sets in which the processed records are to be placed and indicate their location.

The SORTOUT DD statement specifies the single non-OUTFIL output data set for a sort, copy, or merge application. OUTFIL processing does not apply to SORTOUT.

The FNAMES and FILES parameters of one or more OUTFIL statements specify the ddnames of the OUTFIL data sets for a sort, copy, or merge application. The parameters specified for each OUTFIL statement define the OUTFIL processing to be performed for the OUTFIL data sets associated with that statement. For specific information about OUTFIL processing, see OUTFIL control statements.

Although the ddname SORTOUT can actually be used for an OUTFIL data set, the term "SORTOUT" will be used to denote the single non-OUTFIL output data set.