This chapter introduces using MERGE/XL in an interactive session. The examples show a variety of MERGE/XL commands and options to provide an overview of how MERGE/XL works. Refer to Chapter 6 for information on all SORT-MERGE/XL commands, including their syntax, parameters, options, and examples of their operation.
Throughout this chapter three files (EMPLOYEE, NEWHIRES, and COMPANY) are used to illustrate how MERGE/XL operates. They are patterned on typical information that might be used by the Personnel Department of your company. The data is listed by the employee's last name, first name, job title, and employee number. The file EMPLOYEE contains previously sorted data for existing employees, and is designated as an >INPUT file in all examples.
The file NEWHIRES is an unsorted file containing a list of newly hired employees. After it is sorted, it is also designated as an >INPUT file in all examples. The file COMPANY contains the merged data from EMPLOYEE and NEWHIRES in various orders and is designated as the >OUTPUT file in all examples.
